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1812 -1912 












WESTPORT 



1812—1912. 



Commemorating the Centennial of the Santa Fe Trail. 
Westport's History from its beginning as a frontier 
post until its annexation to Kansas City. 
Westport's many springs and pasture 
lands made it the ideal outfit- 
ting point for the over- 
land traffic. 



The profits from the sale of this booklet will be devoted to 

the Pioneer Monument Fund. The Monument 

will be erected on the Santa Fe Trail at 

the site of the City Hall of 

Westport. 



o- 






PRESS OF 

FRANKLIN HUDSON PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

KANSAS CITY, MO. 



^Wt'^Wf^ 



Manuscript Submitted to the Editorial Committee; 

Prof. William T. Longshore, 
Rev. Father James T. Walsh. 
Rev. George P. Baity, 
Prof. Stephen A Underwood, 
Col. William McKendery Johnson, 



Copyriglated 1912, 

By Franklin Hudson Publishing Co. 

Kansas City, Mo. 






^V' 



£CI.A319636 

1 / . . 



The Wcstpork Improvement Association, Incd., Ltd. 

IN CHARGE OF 

SANTA FE TRAIL AND BATTLE OF WBSTPORT 
REUNION AND CARNIVAL. 



Mill Cklek Parkway, South of Westport Avenue, 
August 31st to September Sth, inclusive, 191?. 



Given under the auspices of the Westport Improvement Associa- 
tion, The Kansas City Historical Society, The Daughters of 
the American Revolution, The Daughters of the 
Confederacy, The National Old Trails Road 
Association. For the benefit of the Pio- 
neer Monument Fund on Santa Fe 
Trail at the Site of City Hall 
in Westnort. 



Claude Manlove, 
Charles Kenison, 
James E. Trogdon, 
John Tobin; 



Advisory Board. 

E. W. Lawson, T. P. Mavs, 

W. H. Wolpers, M. J. Bender, 

W. F. Lacaff, Albert N. Doerschuk, 

John Halcro, John F. Wiedenmann. 

Executive Committee. 



John Tobin, | E. W. Lawson, 

James E. Trogdon, M. J. Beuder, 

Albert N. Doerschuk, Sec'y. 



W. F. Lacaff, 



Finance Committee. 
Charles Kenison, John F. Wiedenmann. 



Director of Publicity. 
Albert N. Doerschuk. 



T. P. Mays, 

General Manager. 
James E. Trogdon, 

Attorney. 



Hon. R. J. Ingraham, Ex-Mayor 

of Westport, Counsel. 
E. C. Faris, 

.4 rchitect. 



Directors of Ceremony Santa Fe Trail licunion. 
Miss Elizabeth Gentry, Samuel P. Chiles, 

Col. William M. Johnson, L. A. Allen, 

William Z. Hickman, Napoleon Boone. 

Directors of Ceremony Battle of Westport Jieuaion. 
Mrs. Eoma J. Wornall, Major H. J. Vivian, 

Col. John F. Kichards, Virgil Dresser, 

Col. P. I. Bonebrake, Gen. Milton ]\Ioore. 

Entertainment CommittilEs. 
^Vestport Improvement Association. 
John T. Davis, J. H. West, 

J. W. Hunt, P. S. Pollard, 

Fred A. Pope, J. W. Berry, 

Joseph Esterley, Doctor G. H. Donaldson, 

W. F. Mayberry, John E. ]\Iinturn, 

W. W. Richardson. 

Tlie National United States Daughters of 1812, 
James Kearney Chapter. 
Mrs. Allen L. Porter, Mrs. Eylaud Todlmnter, 

Mrs. A. S. Bnckhanan, Miss Margery Betts, 

Mrs. Ernest Estes, » Mrs. Florence Dove, 

Mrs. Thomas B. Tomb, Mrs. H. W. Crane, 

Miss Edith Wornall, Mrs. S. H. Anderson, 

Mrs. Hunter Meriwether. 

Lincoln Circle^ No. 19, Daughters of the G. A. E. 
Mrs. Augusta Perkins, Mrs. Harriet Howe, 

Mrs. Helen Skelly, Mrs. Mary Trumble, 

Mrs. Olive Stone, Mrs. H. Morris, 

Miss Anna Burns, Mrs. Mary E. Dew, 

Mrs. W. H. Brundridge, Mrs. Sarah Morris. 

Descendants of Old Settlers of Westport. 
Mrs. Julia Mastin, Mrs, Lizzie Schoepf ^lynalt. 

Mrs. A. Waskey Goslyn, Mrs. Virginia Havs Asburv, 

Mrs. Mollie Dixon Tobin, Mrs. Allen B. H.'McGee, " 

Mrs. Wm. S. Cowherd, Mrs. Thos. P. Allen Morris. 

Mrs. Eosa Becker Hahn, IMrs. Katie Stegmiller Gregg, 

Mrs. Ida Wright Boone, Mrs. Mollie Waldo Smith, 

Mrs, Joseph Sautter, Mrs. Louisa Esslinger Michael. 
Mrs, A. Krueger, ^Irs. Lizzie Emmons ]\IcConnell, 

Miss Sarah Heyl, 'Sirs. Herman Hedding Wiedenmann. 

6 



iJescrttdanis uf l:>oldiers of tlie Mexican War. 

Mrs. W. K. Bradbury, Mrs. Oscar H. Davis, 

Mrs. James Lobb, Mrs. W. A. Kule, 

Miss Beriiice Peacock, Claude Boland, 

Mable Hunter Quarles, Mrs. M. H. Danieron, 

Dr. W. L. Campbell, Hon Koland Hughes. 

Daughters of ike American Revolution. 

Mrs. Edward Greorge, Mrs. W. J. Anderson, 

Mrs. Milton Welsh, ^Irs. Thomas Hedriek, 

Mrs. W. B. La Force, Mrs. F. L. La Force, 

Mrs. :\lark Salisbury, Mrs. E. C. Ellis, 

Mrs. Koland Proctor, Mrs. K. B. Fullerton, 

.\Lrs. Eoland Winch. 

National Old Trails Road Association. 

Hon. J. M. Lowe, Mrs. T. S. Pidge, 

Frank A. Davis, Mrs. J. H. Austin, 

Mrs. John Van Brunt, Mrs. Selden Pobertson, 

^Irs. F. D. Crabbs, Mrs. Irvin Flournoy, 

]\Irs. W. T. Kemper, Miss Elizabeth Gentry. 

Daugliicrs of the Confederacy. 

Mrs. Herbert A. Longan, Mrs. Thomas Wood Parry, 

^Irs. Hugh Miller, Mrs. R. K. Johnson, 

Mrs. Blake L. Woodson, Mrs. L. G. Buford, 

Mrs. W. S. Clagett, Mrs. W. Hays Pfahler, 

Mrs. S. E. Wornall, Miss Lucie Meriwether. 

Kansas City Historical Society. 

Henry C. Flower, Mrs. J. F. Binnie, 

Mrs. W. B. Thayer, J. M. Greenwood, 

Mrs. I. M. Eidge, Mrs. Frank ILagerman, 

Mrs. Hal Gaylord, Judge Henrv C. McDougal, 

A. M. Allen, Dr. W. L. Campbell, 

Mrs. Langston Bacon, Dr. Geo. W. Davis, 

W. J. Anderson, Hon. E. L. Scarritt. 

Committee on Reproduction of Battle of Westport. 

Col. George P. Gross, Chairman. 
Hon. William P. Borland, Judge John C. Gage, 

Col. John F. Philips, Mrs. Julia Simpson, 

Mrs. Homer Peed, Col. John C. Moore. 



Loyal Legion. 

Col. C. F. jVlorse, Dr. E. W. ScliaulHer, 

Col. John F. Philips. Capt. M. B. Wright, 

Dr. David R. Porter, Col. John Conover, 

Hon. Chas. W. Clark, Francis D. Askew, Esq. 

Major. Wm. Warner. Geo. H. Devol, Esq. 

Missouri Society Sons of the Revolution. 



Charles Ozarah Pugsley, 
Alfred Darah Rider, 
Jay M. Lee, 
Arthur C. Cowan, 
Harry Thomas Abernathy 



Edwin M. Clendening, 
Frank Edwin Holland, 
William R. Jacques, 
Charles Davis Parker, 
Harry Perrv Wright. 




THE SEAL OF WESTPORT. 
Taken from an authentic map of early Westport. 



MUNUMEiNT-BUiLDliNG AND MAHKING THE TRAIL. 



Over the entrance of the Old Santa F6 Trail road into the 
uld city of Santa Fe the citizens of Santa Fe have erected a 
beautiful arch, and the markers from Old Franklin to older 
Santa Fe have been provided by the legislative appropriations of 
the respective States through which the trail passes in Missouri, 
Kansas, I'olorado and New Mexico. 

In 1911 the old settlers and citizens of the city of Den- 
ver, Colorado, in grand reunion assembled, unveiled the '"Kit" 
Carson Monument in the civic center of Denver. It is a wonder- 
ful piece of the sculptor's art. The old scout on a running 
horse crowns the monument. The hunter, trapper, and miner 
form a very pretentious pedestal for him, but they too rest upon 
a magnificent pedestal of Colorado marble, rising tier on tier to 
a commanding height. 

''Meet me on the trail" is the slogan of the Westerner as 
they meet in old settlers' reunion now to mark with suitable 
emblems in stone and bronze the important points along the wav. 
There was something in the well-equipped wagon train that re- 
minds us of the Anglo-Saxon slogan, "As we journey through 
life let us live by the way." 

The marker at Westport, Missouri, as designed by the West- 
port Improvement Association, is to be one of the most appropri- 
ate and befitting monuments erected along the Trail. It expresses 
the fact that Westport was the chief outfitting point for the 
caravan wagon trade. This Santa Fe Trail and Battle of West- 
port Eeunion and Carnival is held foi the sole purpose of start- 
ing a Pioneer Monument Fund to secure the Westport marker, 
which is to be five yoke of oxen, life size in stone, a full-sized 
prairie schooner with wagon-master and bull-whackers and the 
faithful dog in the rear. This souvenir booklet is sold for the 
benefit of that fund. 

The Westport Improvement Association is a volunteer or- 
ganization of enterprising business men of the Westport district 
of Kansas City, Missouri. They are the trustees of this Pioneer 
Monument Fund. The AVestport Avenue Bank is the custodian 
of the ]\Ionument Fund. This is a movement in which every 
loyal Missourian should join with love and harmony. 



THE OLD SAXTA FE TRAIL. 



Paeticularly Its Developaiext by the Sons 
OF Missouri. 

A hundred years is the brief day of man. Tfiis article only 
briefly leads u]) to the day of the Missouri pioneers — through the 
history of the centuries when this trail belonged lirst to the Amer- 
ican Indians, then the Spanish by exploration, followed by the 
French in actual possession until early in the lirst years of the 
nineteenth century. But it is chiefly devoted to the span of the 
last one hundred years, in which time our Missouri history has 
been so closely identified with the commerce of the prairies. 

In 1812, just one century ago, the first pack-mule train 
started from Old Franklin, Missouri, to the much older city 
of Santa Fe. The Westport Santa Fe Trail Eeunion is a 
centennial reunion for the lovers and descendants of the trails- 
men. We attempt to span 1812 to 1912 with authentic data. 

Santa Fe is claimed to be the oldest town in the United 
States. When the Spanish entered New Mexico, about the year 
1542, they found a vefy large Pueblo town on the present site 
of Santa Fe and learned that its prior existence extended far 
back into the vanished centuries according to the history of New 
^Mexico published by the Church in 1600. Bancroft stales that 
by proclamation of the King of Spain, it took the name of ''Villa 
of Santa Fe" and was first officially mentioned on the ;^d of J.on- 
uary, 1G17. Others record that the first immigration to New 
]\Iexico was under Don Juan de Orante about 1597 and the vear 
after Santa Fe was settled. That it is very much older than any 
of the cities on the plains is unquestioned. To date, the origin 
of the Santa Fe Trail would be giving history to whom honor- 
which our ancestors had to do began in the early part of the 
nineteenth century, when the United States made the Louisiana 
Purchase. 

Marquette explored all this land for the French in 1673 
and Lonis XTV. took possession in 1682. It afterwards belonged 
again to Spain, but by the terms of the definite treaty of San 
lidefonso, October 1, 1800, Napoleon, First Consul of France, 
received what is known in history as the Louisiana Territory. 

Pobert. E. Livingston, on the part of the United States of 
America, and Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Eepublic 

10 



of France, in 1803 entered into a treaty by means of whith the 
United States came into possession of this territory. 

"Sturdy are the Saxon faces 
As they move along the line.'"' 

First as trappers, then as traders, came the western jiio- 
neers. Early in the nineteenth century a more or less demand 
caused the trading-post to take on the military aspect of an out- 
post fort. The American Hag always protects the demand of 
commerce — ^so the Government in 180-i built United States forts 
for the protection against Indian attacks on the trading-posis. 

The Lewis and Clark fort-guilding expedition started from 
St. Louis and gave Fort Clark to the vicinity; of Westport. The 
first decade in the history of the commercial development at the 
mouth of the Kaw has almost eluded us, but a hundred years ago 
we know that not only a; fort, Imt a little outpost port was in 
operation here in what is now being remembered as Westport 
Landing, but was then called the "Town of Kansas," having 
been so named by the French. 

Missouri has been particularly identified with the Old Santa 
Fe Trail since 1812. The wonderful adventures of William 
Becknell's pack-mule train that started over the plains en route 
for Santa Fe that year mark the beginning of the century that 
we are now celebrating. 

Beeknell disposed of his goods at such an advantage that 
he made several subsequent tours. The "Franklin Company"' 
was soon not alone in this adventure. Many merchants from 
Illinois and St. Louis sent their wares up the Missouri in crude 
boats and senti them by pack to Santa Fe. 

One half-decade of very brisk business followed in which 
the Mexicans came our wav with their packs quite often, but usu- 
ally carried their wares down the river in canoes to the larger 
market afforded them at St. Louis. They always left their mules 
here until they returned with their loads from the East. 

Missouri has a verv great claim to the literature and history 
of the Old Santa Fe Trail. With the commerce of the prairies 
her freighters began to flourish, and they held supreme trans- 
portation dominion during the gold fever of 1849. 

In 1813 the name of the Louisiana Territorv was changed 
to the Missouri Territory. During the next half-decade com- 
merce sprang up like magic. 

The power political wa« vested in a territorial government. 
Volumne I. of the Territorial Laws of Missouri contained all gen- 
eral laws that governed the frontiersman. 

11 



"in IBlxJ L'apt. Wm. Beckneilj who had been ou a trading 
expedition witli the Comanche Indians in the summer of 1811, 
organized a pack-mule train to start from Old Franklin, Mis- 
souri, en route for Santa F6. The incidents of this trip were 
notable because, when the party arrived at 'The Caches' on the 
upper Arkansas, Becknell, who was in reality a man of the then 
'frontier,' bold, plucky, and endoM^ed with excellent sense, con- 
ceived the idea of striking directly across the country for Santa 
Fe through a region absolutely unexplored, with nothing but 
the N^orth Star and an unreliable pocket compass to guide him. 
There was a total absence of water and their sufferings were 
most horrible. They would have perished had not a super- 
annuated buffalo, that had Just come from the Cimarron River, 
appeared in sight. He was quickly killed and the water from his 
stomach consumed by the men. They followed the trail of the 
animal back to the river, but after filling their canteens and re- 
freshing their animals, they decided to go back to the Arkansas 
and take the highway and the safe way along the water-sheds." 

— Inman's "Old Santo Fr Trail." 

"As early as 1815, August P. Chouteau and his partner, 
with a large number of trappers and hunters, went out to the 
valley of the upper Arkansas for the purpose of trading with the 
Indians. The island on which Chouteau established his trading- 
post, and which bears his name even to this day, ic in the Arkan- 
sas River, on the bouhdary line of the United States and Mex- 
ico. While occupying the island, Chouteau and his old hunters 
and trappers were attacked by three hundred Indians, whom they 
repulsed with the loss of thirty killed and wounded. Thes? 
Indians afterwards declared that it was the most fatal affair in 
which they were ever engaged. It was their first acquaintance 
with American guns." 

In 1821 Missouri became a State in the Union. The next 
year after Missouri became a State "The Sons ofi Franklin," 
masters of the vehicle idea, routed the first wagon train over 
the Santa Fe Trail. They blazed the way for the four-wheeled 
wagon to old Santa Fe — and most wonderful were their experi- 
ences on the trip. 

William Becknell in 1821 was again notably connected with 
the enterprise, when wheeled vehicles were introduced in the in- 
terests of commerce. Col. IMarmaduke, of Missouri, later of 
Confederate fame, was of the party. This caravan train carried 
merchandise. Prior to this Indians had been in the main friend- 
ly to thei trailsmen, who usually traveled alone and sought to be 
friendly with them. There were notable exceptions of course. 
Captain Becknell is regarded as "the Father of the Santa F6 

12 



Trail." Franklin, Missouri, is called "the Cradle of the Trail." 

ComjTierical Westport, where we meet in tliis reunion, was, 
after 1833, tlie outfitting - point for the frontiersmen. Old 
Franklin is 187 miles east below the mouth of the Kaw on the 
Missouri River, opposite the present site of Boonville, Missouri. 
Nothing remains to mark the old town site now, it having been 
washed into the river in 1828. 

The old Harris House hotel r.t Westporf was a famous 
point on the Santa Ye Trail ; it is a part of all the pioneer his- 
tory that has been; it figured in the romance of Mamie Bernard 
and her Spanish husband, Epifano Aguirre. As Mamie could 
not speak Spanish and Aguirre could not speak English, they 
invited an interpreter to go on their wedding journey to Mexico. 

]\[rs. Jessie Benton Fremont lived for months at a time 
at the Harris FTouse in Westport, where her distinguished hus- 
band had domiciled her at the nearest possible point to him 
while he was exploring the western half of the continent. Gen- 
eral John C. Fremont was a frequent visitor at W'estport between 
exploring trips for the Government. 

The old Harris House hotel i*^ a monument to the early 
West and to all that it sheltered, '^s Benton, Fremont, Boone. 
Hays, pioneer on the Oregon Trail. Doniphan, Kearney, Car- 
son, Bent, Bridger. and Aubrev : to Washington Irving. English 
lords, Spanish grandees, and l\Iexican and Civil War heroes 
made their headquartersi here. It should stand always as a 
historical apset. not alone to Westport, but to Missouri and the 
entire West. It is already the most speaking living monument 
on the Santa Fe Trail, and will in another hundred years be to 
Kansas City and the entire West what Old South Church is now 
to Boston. 

From a letter by Wm. Becknell to the editor at Sibley, l\Tis- 
sonri, September 1, 1821 : "Our company crossed the Missouri 
River near Arrow Rock Ferry and encamped about six miles west. 
WHien we arrived at Fort Osage we wrote some letters, purchased 
some medicine, and arranged some affairs that we thought neces- 
sary previous to leaving the cnnflnes of civilization. The coun- 
try for several davs' travel from Fort Osage is verv handsomelv 
situated, being higfh prairie, exceedingly fertile, but timber is 
unfoT^tunately scarce." 

Another, November 13th: "^^e meet a number of Spanish 
troops, much to our satisfaction. Their reception fullv convinces 
us of their hospitable disnosition and friendly feelings. We en- 
camped with them that nicht and the next day abont ten o'clock 
arrived at the village of St. Michael." 

13 



Again, the 15th: "We arrived at Santa Fe and were received 
with apparent pleasure and joy. The da}- after my arrival I 
accepted an invitation to visit tlie Governor, whom I found very 
well informed and gentlemanly in manners. He asked many 
questions concerning my country, its people, their manner of 
living, etc." 

But the adventures of the "Franklin Company'' in 1821, as 
they started on their return trip, which n^.ade the Caravan Trail 
famous, probably introduced the idea of the necessity and econ- 
omy of the ox, who was to share in the glory of the pioneers. 
Horses and mules were so coveted by the Indians and Mexicans 
that the mild-eyed ox was chosen as a substitute. 

The best source of information concerning the Trail is Dr. 
Joseph Gregg's "Commerce of the Prairie," published in 1844, 
which is really a classic; and Col. Henry Inman's "Old Santa 
Fe Trail," published in 1899. Buffalo Bill wrote the preface and 
declared it was a truthful story of most absorbing interest. Chap- 
ter five of this book relates the vinnderful adventures of the 
Franklin Company in 1828. 

In 1828 a company of young Missourians started from 
Franklin to Santa Fe. They were *o disastrously encountered 
by the Indians that never again the commercial wagon train 
noved over the Trail without military escort. In the spring of 
1829 Major Bennett Eiley, of the United States Army, with four 
companies of the Sixth Regular Infantrv, marched over the Trail 
from Missouri to Santa Fe as militarv escort, protecting the 
caravans. Captain Cook's journals and ^fajor TJiley's reports to 
the Secretary of War are splendid references. 

For a little over the next half-decade the troops protected 
the caravan trains; thus the flag followed the commerce over the 
early trail. 

Much has been said of the advent of the ox upon the 
Trail and the appropriateness of the schooner drawn, by five yoke, 
which i?; to mark the Trail at Westpnrt. The American Army in- 
trodiucd him' first upon the Trail. 

"Dear old ox, how came you here? 
You 've ])lowed the fields for many a year. 
You 've been knocked and kicked and stood abuse. 
And now come for the trailsman's use. 

Where is the ox. the mild-eyed cvme 
Who helped to develop land and clime? 
What ! you say : — 'The noble steers 
Pas^fd away with the pioneers.' " 

15 



Long liefore old Teciimseh Sherman inarched his blue-coats 
to the sea, opening a national highway tJirough the South, Gen- 
eral Zachary Taylor's reinforcement*, under General Doniphan, 
marched from Forf Leavenworth to Santa Fe to defend fh-' 
southern boundary of the United States. This Army of the West, 
of which so little has licen written on its chronicles, made a great 
national highway, which is now being" marked from Kansas City 
to Xew Mexico. 

In the early forties the Mexican: began again to move 
caravans under their major doiiM or wagon-master, over 
the Trail to Westport. More or less native hatred had existed 
between the Texans and the ]\[exicans, and Governor Manuel 
Aemijc had imposed heavy impost duties, whicii had served to 
increase the hostile feelings ancl decrease the wagon Train traffi • 
over the Trail; accordingly, when they started out their own 
wagon caravans, the report that the Texans had organized ma- 
rauding bands of robbers to waylay them caused them to ask the 
protection of the United States troops through Federal territory. 
Indian hostilities broke out about this time, and the Trail for 
vears was a veritable battle-ground, until the railroads sui>- 
planted the traffic by supplanting the pioneer caravan train. 



To The Star: You ask for "Joe Bowers." I write just as 
I heard it s\nig forty years ago on the "Trail" in the West. It 
may not have the verbiage as when first written, but it is exact 
as it was then sung bv the "mule-drivers" and the "hull-whackers'" 
of those times. — J. M. C. 

Joe Bowers. 

I 'II tell you all ahout me, 

.\iid how I came to roam, 
.\n(l lo leave my dear old mother. 

So far away from home. 

Mv name it is Joe Bowers. 

I 've got a brother Ike ; 
1 came from old Missouri, 

Came all the way from "Pike." 

There I courted a young lady 

By the name of Sally Black ; 
I axed would she have me, 

She said it was a "whack." 

16 



But, "First/' said she, "Joe Bowers, 

Before we hitch for life, 
You ought to get a little home. 

To take j-our little wife." 

"Well, now/' said I, "my Sally, 

It is just for your sake, 
I '11 go to California, 

And there I '11 raise a stake." 

''Why, bless your soul/' said Sally, 
'Ton are the chap to win, 

But I 'm afraid you may returr. 
With pockets full of tin." 

Then I remarked to Sally, 

"It 's time for me to go. 
And T hope that you'll rememl)er 

Your loving-hearted Joe.'' 

Sal threw her arms around me. 

And then began to bawl. 
Said I, "Fareweirto Sally, 

Farewell to one and all.'" 

When I got to California 

I hadn't nary red ; 
T had such sheepish feelings 

That I wished that T was dead. 

But at last I got to mining. 

And was striking my happiest lick; 
I pounded at the boulders. 

Just like ten thousand brick. 

'Twas then T made a happy strike. 

And 'was fixing to come home 
To claim my dearest Sally, 

And never more to roam. 

But then I got a letter, 

It was from brother 7ke : 
It came from Old Missouri. 

It came all the wav from Pike. 



17 



Well, it had the darndest news 

That ever one did hear; 
Said Sally had maraied a butcher, 

And that the butcher had red hair. 

And it had some other news 

That nearly made me swear : 

Said Sally had a baby, 

And it, too, had red hair. 

Whether boy child or girl. 

The letter never said ; 
Just said Sally had a baby. 

And that its cussed head was red. 

Now I 've told you all ab<iut me, 
And how I came to roam, 

And to leave ray dear old mother. 
So far nwav from home. 



— Joe Bowerx. 



18 



OLD WESTPORT 



When pioneers came to what is now Jackson County in tlie 
early part of the nineteenth century, they reasoned that some- 
where near the junction of the Missouri and Kaw rivers^ at the 
gatewa}T to the West, was the place for a city. They had a def- 
inite idea^ but were not certain of the exact location. 

Independence was founded in 1827, and until 1840 it ap- 
peared that this was to be the great city of the West. The pre- 
ponderance of trade at about this latter date centered at West- 
port, which had been established in 1833, and for many years it 
seemed that it was to become the city of destiny. Kansas City 
was founded in 1839, and was soon in competition with West- 
port and Independence for supremacy. The historic town of 
Westport was consolidated with Kansas City in 1890 and is now 
a part of the Fourth Ward. 

Daniel Morgan Boone, the third son of Daniel Boone, the 
Kentucky pioneer, was the first white man. according to a well- 
founded tradition, to visit the site of Independence. He crossed ■ 
the wilderness alone from Kentucky to St. Louis in 1TS7, when 
he was eighteen years old; for twelve years he spent the time 
trapping beaver on the Little Bine Hiver and other ?treams in 
the vicinity of Westport and Independence. Boone said that 
Jackson County was the best county for beaver in those days 
that he had discovered. This pioneer was the commander of a 
company in the' War of 1812. Afterwards he was appointed 
farmer to the Kaw Indians and was stationed for four years 
near Lecompton, Kansas, on the Kaw River. Boone finallv set- 
tled on a farm near Westport, where he died in 1832. Prom 
Asiatic cholera. 

Jackson County was organized by an act of the Missouri 
Legislature. December 15, 1826. David Ward and Jnlius Em- 
mons, of Lafavette County, and John Bartleson, of Clav County, 
were appointed to select a site for the county seat. The com- 
missioner selected the site on which Independence noAv stands as 
the location. Long ago, in 1824 and 1825, two counties sep- 
arated by the IMissouri Eiver, and flanked by the western border 
line, sought at the same time their incorporation bv the Leg- 
islature. On the north the inhabitants, mostly emigrants from 
Kentucky, and advocating the elevation of that gentleman to the 
presidency, calling their conntv Clay, and its seat of justice 
Liberty. On the south, ns if in rivalrv. pmigrants from A^irginin. 

19 



Carolina, and Tennessee selected the name of Jaclcson for their 
county and Independence for their county seat. 

The county court of Jackson County held its first meeting 
in Independence, July 2, 1827. The judges were: Henry Bur- 
ris, presiding, and Abraham McClellan and Eichard Fristoe. 
L. W. Boggs, afterwards governor of Missouri, was clerk of the 
court. 

Colonel Henry Ellsworth, commissioner of Indian affairs, 
and a party of travelers, among whom was Wasliington Irving, 
the Father of American Literature, passed through Independ- 
ence and Westport in 1832, on a tour through the Indian coun- 
try. He said in a letter : "Yesterday I was on a- deer-hunt in 
this vicinity, which led me through scenery that only wanted a 
castle or a gentleman's seat here and there interspersed to have 
equaled some of the most celebrated park scenery of England." 

Independence in those early years was selected as a place 
of arrival and departure for pack-trains, and as an outfitting 
place for trappers of the mountains and western plains. It was 
w'ell worth while to witness the arrival of some of these pack- 
trains. The mountain trade at length gave way to Mexican 
trade. This being on a much larger scale, pack-mules and 
donkeys were discarded and wagons drawn by ox and mule teams 
were substituted in their place. 

A Baptist missionarv, the Eev. Isaac McCoy, entered a 
tract of Government land in 1S31. four miles south of the 
Missouri Eiver, on a. road that led from Independence west to 
the plains. The next year his son, John McCoy, established a 
store on the land. The business prospered and in 1833 John 
]\IcCoy decided to become a town-builder; he divided the land 
adjacent to the store into lots and sold them and called the set- 
tlement Westport. It is said that McCoy chose this name because 
it was a port of entry into the great western country. McCoy 
became a surveyor .for the Government in 1830. He sold his 
store to William M. Chick. 

On the land purchased from the Government by Isaac 
MeCoy was the site of the village of Sauk or "Saukee" Indians, 
the last tribal habitation in the vicinity of Westport. The In- 
dian settlement was situated on a ridge one mile south of Brush 
Creek. 

The Santa Fe traders adontod the custom, about 1837. of 
stooping at Westport to await the arrival of their goods at Blue 
]\Iills Landing or Wa^Tie City on the Missouri Eiver. The 
prairie lands adjacent to Westport with its many springs afford- 
ed excellent grazing and camping-gronnds. From Westport it 

20 



was only four miles north to the Missouri River, while it was 
eighteen miles to the Blue Mills Landing or Wayne City. 
Pierre Roi, a Frenchman, built a read from Westport directly 
north to the Missouri Eiver; the traders, taking advantage of 
this shorter distance and good road, soon began having then- 
goods shipped to the new "'Westport Landing/' rather than Blue 
Mills Landing or Wayne City. 

The superior advantage of Westport as a business center 
attracted various classes of merchants, tradespeople, and me- 
chanics. The Indians living in the country west of town re- 
ceived large annuities from the Government and tl'.ey spent their 
money freely. The country adjacent to Westport in all direc- 
tions was being settled. The freighters on the Santa Fe Trail 
attracted numerous lar^e outfitting stores, blacksmiths, wagon- 



^*^>' 















makers, etc. The demand for furniture other than the home- 
made kind of the pioneers brought cabinet-makers to Westport. 

The business houses of Westport were first situated, for the 
most part, on a little stream that flowed through town in a south- 
easterly direction, crossing the present Westport Avenue near 
Mill Street. Along the banks of the stream, inside of town limits 
and without, were excellent springs that were convenient to the 
townspeople and travelers. ^lany of these springs were known 
by name. 

West|)ort's first tavern was owned by Daniel Yoacham sit- 
uated near the junction of Westport Ave. and Mill Street. The 
hostelry was a gathering-place for trappers, hunters, traders, 
Indians, and soldiers. The second tavern wasi established by 
A. B. H. McGee, at Westport Avenue and Penn Street. In 



21 



1847 Mr. McCree sold out to John (Jnekj Hurnt, whu cDuducLed 
the Harris House there until 18G4. Jauies H. Hunter was the 
first saddler and afterwards a suLceisful ujerchant. Robert 
Johnson operated the tannery and was the owner of the first 
brick house west of Independence. Mrs. James Holloway was a 
tailoress and made weddmg garments for the .\oung meu. I he 
leading physicians were: Dr. H. F. Hereford, Dr. Joel ll Mor- 
ris, Dr. J. P. Stone, Dr. David Waldo, Dr. Parker, and Dr. A. 
B. Earle, also postn. aster. Park Lee was an early attorney. 
The bread-making business was also profitable in WesLjort. A. 
M. Eisile's bakery-, near the present northeast corner of Wtstpi.n 
Avenue and Mill Street, made him a small fortune and he Imiit 
one of the best two-story residences in town. Among tlie large 
land-holders from the Government of that period were CJeoige 
Harper, Capt. David Waldo (of the Mexican War), Boone Hays 
(grandson of Daniel Boone, pioneer on the Oregon Trail, on 
which he lies buried), Jesse Thomas, Dave Self, Sam Poteei. 
and James Yeager. 

The Government established a post-office near the site of 
West-port in 1832, giving it the name of Shawnee. The name 
in two years was changed to Westport. The first postmaster was 
Dr. Johnston Lykins, and the second was John C. McCoy. ^lail 
was carried from Hidependenee to Westport once a vceek on 
horseback. A road was built across the State from St. Louis 
to Westport in 1839 and mail was* brought by stage twice a week. 
The principal tread-mill was situated on Brush Creek near 
the crossing of Wornall road, and one on Indian Creek near the 
State line. James H. McGee owned a corn-cracker; near where 
Westport Avenue crosses Mill Street a large water-])ower iniil. 
owned Ijy Johnson and Robert Hnll, was situated near by. 
William Parish and J. H. McGee operated a small distillery and 
brewery near the present site of Allen School. This ground w s 
bought by the School Board in ISfiS. One of the first large ship- 
ments of goods sent to Westport was for the firm of Meservey & 
Webb in Santa Fe. Boone & Bernard, of Westport, acting as 
agents, received the goods at the Westport Landing and engaged 
wagons and teams for the overland transportation. The caravan 
required to haul this one consignment of goods consisted of sixtv- 
three wagons, each carrying about 0.000 pounds and drawn bv 
six yoke of oxen. 

Westport had an extensive trade with Santa Fe in 1849. 
when the California immigration began, greatly increasing the 
business. It is estimated that -10,000 immigrants bought outfits 
in Westport in 1849 and 1850. Companies of persons from all 

22 



parts of tlie country came to Westport to organize caravans for 
journeys across the plains. Almost every type of man in tlic 
West could be seen on the streets of Westport. 

Westport was a market for cattle, mules, horses, harness, 
tents, saddles, and all other equipment needed for travel. In the 
town's early days Westport Avenue was lined with various out- 
fitting establishments from a point east of Broadway to Mill 
Street. Similar stores and shops were situated on Penn Street 




THOMAS J. GOFORTH 
First Mayor of the Town of Westport. 



from Fortieth to Forty-third streets. Gold and silver bullion 
could be seen piled on the streets of Westport, being re-consigned 
and re-shipped at this point. The outfitting business was con- 
ducted on a cash basis and money was plentiful. When the im- 
migrant trade was at its height the prairies around Westport were 
dotted with tents and wagons and had the appearance of the camp 
of a great army. These are the names of some of the successful 
business men and firms of Westport: Kearney & Bernard; A. G. 
Boone; J. M. and J. Hunter; Baker & Street; William Dillon; 

23 



S. F. and W. H. Keller; S. C. Koby; J. Ix. Hamilton; ¥. Gallup; 
Frederick Esslinger; Edward Price; Henry Sager; Francis 
Booth; r. D. Elkms; F. G. Ewing; W. M. Chick; Colvin Smiih 
and Alfred Warlield. 

Between 1855 and 186U \A'estport reached the zenith oi Us 
prosperity. Westport was incorporated February 13, 1857. Its 
lirst mayor was Thomas J. Goforth. 

Shawnee Mission, in Kansas three miles south of Westport, 
was closely identified with the early history of the town, Tlie 
Rev. Thomas Johnson, founder of the mission, was intiuiately 
associated with Isaac McCoy, Dr. Lykins, and other residents of 
Westport. Thomas Johnson established the iirst mission school 
for Shawnee Indians in 1839, in the town of Shawnee, in John- 
son County, Kansas. The school liad twenty-seven pupils in 
1835, and the church had a membership of seventy^-four Shaw- 
nee Indians. The mission was removed to the location three 
miles from Westport in 1839, where the Government had given a 
grant of 2,240 acres. Large buiklings were erected on the new 
site and a manual training school established that continued in 
operation until 1862. Francis Parkmau, the historian, came to 
Jackson County in May, 1846, and to Westport to equip an out- 
fit for the "Western journey. He gave a description of Westport 
in his book, 'The Oregon Trail." 

When Westport was^ established tlie principal steamboat land- 
ing in Jackson County was at Blue Mills and Wayne City, six 
miles below Independence. 

The Westport merchants found this landing inconvenient, 
as the trip could not be made down and l)ack in one day ; so they 
had their freight brought ashore farther up the river. About 
this time John C. McCoy had the stock of goods for his store 
brought ashore above Chouteau's warehouse, in 1832, from the 
steamboat John Jlancoclc, and a regular landing was established 
at the river bank where Grand Avenue reaches the river. This 
was the beginning of "AVestport Landing.*" that afterwards de- 
veloped into Kansas City. 



24 



8TEAMB0ATING IN THE SANTA FE TlLUl, DAYS. 



A set of gilded deer horns were the trophies of speed. Tlie 
arbitrary rule of the river was that the fastest boat wore the 
horns. The trophies had to be at once surrendered by the cap- 
tain of the boat oiit-si3eoded. Lt has been suggested lluu this 
may account for so many of them going on the shoal.-. 

Here follows the sum and substance of an article contributul 
for this booklet by the Kansas Citv Hislorical Societv. written 
by Dr. W. L. Campbell : 

'Tn Westport's golden age of ihe Santa Ee I'rail, freighting 
in the decade preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, the freight 
for Santa Fe was brought up the ^lissouri Eiver from St. Louis 
in the steamboats, landed at the Kansas City levee, and thence 
carried west on wagons. The road or trail from tlie levee 
ran from Delaware Street along the northern foot oi' the blutf 
that is still standing, till ihe trail reached the phicc wh^rc' 
Grand Avenue now is, and then it turned southward along the 
eastern foot of the same bluff and toward Westport, cutting acros, 
land where now is the market square of Kansas City. The 
writer's father was a freighter — solely a freighter. He never 
alternated this with any other pursuit, such as merchandising. 
Some of the other freighters did alternate. At the decline of 
freighting he retired. 

"Between the years 1850 and ISHO, steamboating was at its 
best on the Missouri River, and in 1857, 729 boats arrived at 
Kansas City. Innmense profits were made in the busines-. Some 
of these boats were named after plainsir.en. Among these were 
the F. X. Aiibrry, a side-wheel boat liuilt by Captain Thomas 
H. Brierly in 1853. At the top of the pilot-house was the gildfd 
figure of a rider on a galloping horse, representing Aubrey on a 
famous ride from Santa Fe to Independence. The Aubrey was 
sunk near Herman, Missouri, in 1860. and her machinery was 
taken off the wreck and mounted on the Arai^o. The Aubrey. 
although a fast boat, was not the fastest one Captain Brierly 
ever commanded. Either the Morning Star or the Polar Star 
could pass the Aubrey, although the Aubrey was one of the 
'liehtning line packets,' as they were in that day called. At 
different times Captain Brierly was captain on each of these 
steamers. 

25 



"The Kit (Jarson, uaiued after tlie noted plainsmau, burned 
at the levee in St. Louis in 1849. Captain N. J. Eaton was in 
command. 

"A side- wheel boat was built m 1860, and called the Mxnk, 
l)eing painted tlie color of that animal. The Mink 'took a sheer' 
on the Missouri Riven near the mouth of Grand lUver, and run- 
ning into the bank, by escaping from the pilot's control, leaked 
and sank. The Mink was raised and painted white, and called 
the Alexander Majors, after one of the pioneer freighters of 
Westport. The Majors was a medium-sized boat. It burned at 
the levee in St. Louis in 1866. The Majors was a good average 
boat, but not a floating palace like the Morning Star or Polar 
Star or Aubrey. 

"The W. H. Bussell, a large side-wheel passenger boat that 
discharged much freight at Kansas City, was named after a 
Santa Fe freighter and a partner of Alexander Majors. It was 
built and owned by Captain Joseph Kinney. 

"The Amazon, commanded and owned by Captain P. M. 
Chouteau, of Kansas City, carried) many a ton of Santa Fe 
freight. The Amazon belonged in the palace class, and was 
253 feet long and 32 feet beam. The Amazon snagged and sank 
in the Missouri River, three miles from its mouth, one night in 
1856, and the place is still called 'Amazon Bend.' Captain Ash- 
ley Hopkins, a brother-in-law of Captain Chouteau, owned and 
ran the Asa Wilgus, alfeo a heavy carrier of Santa Fe freight. 
The Asa Wilgus sank at Bates' woodyard, near Herman, in 1860. 
The magnificent A. B. Chambers, owned by Captain Alexander 
Gilham, who lived in the old-fashioned house still standing at 
1315 McGee Street, sank below the wreck of the Amazon and 
between Amazon Bend and the mouth of the Missouri River. 
September 24, 1860. The Chambers was 225 feet long and 33 
feet beam. The Cora, named by Captain Joseph Kinney, of Old 
Franklin, Missouri, in honor of his daughter, lies in what is 
known as 'Cora Chute,' not far from the Chambers and the 
Amazon. Captain Kinney made $50,000 profit in one trip from 
St. Louis to Fort Benton, ]\Iontana, with the Cora. 

"The A. B. Chambers was named after an editor of the St. 
Louis Bepvhlic, whose daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Chambers Hull, 
now of St. Louis, was awarded the $500 prize in 1911 for 
composing the State song, "Missouri." The larg^er steamer, Sam 
Gaty, named after the St. Louis foundryman. whose picture is in 
the rooms of the St. Louis Historical Society, lies in the 'Nigger 
Bend' above Arrow Rock, Missouri, and is the boat that brought 
back to Kansas City, after a temporary absence in war-time, the 
family of Col. Kersey Coates. The Coates family originally 

26 



caiue tu Kansas City un Llie Williatu Campbell, a boat named 
after llie writer's uucle. i lie steamer was eonimanded by Cap- 
tain William Jildds (pronounced Eads), tlie man who brought 
John J. lugalls to Kansas City on the palatial steamer 
Duncan ^. Carter. The wreck of the Carter lies hidden from 
view near St. Aubert, Missouri. A member of our Keception 
Committee^ Mr. James Goodin, of 11"^1 Prospect Avenue, owued 
the stern-wheel steamer Fire Canoe, tliat sank November 13, 
1851), in Kaw Bend in the Missouri I'iver, in view of Kansas 
City, Kansas, then Wyandotte. J' ire Canoe was the Indian 
name for steamboat, and the boat was bound for Fort Leaven- 
worth with a load of coal from Lexington. The bell of the Fire 
Canoe was removed from the wreck and placed on the Gilliss 
House, a hotel on the Kansas City kvee, the object being to ca^l 
people to their meals, a custom extrait in that day. The Gilliss 
House subsequently became a ri\a! of the Harris House in bid- 
ding for patronage. 

'Tn 1832 the Joh^i Hancock, laden with a stock of mer- 
chandise for John C. McCoy's big store at Westport, arrived first 
at the levee. Concerning the John Hancock there is not a par- 
agraph in any history of Kansas City or ^lissouri, although 
much has been written of the Independence, that landed at Old 
Franklin in 1819. The Hancock was a side-wheel, single-engiut' 
Ijoat, and Ijelonged to a type of river craft that was extinct be- 
fore the halcyon days of steamboating. These old-fasLioned sin- 
gle engines would now be regarded as a curiosity. Instead of 
managing the engine with a lever or throttle, the engineer used 
crow-bars. There were no wires, bells nor speaking-tubes con- 
necting the pilot-house with the engine-room, and the pilot 
shouted his orders to the engineer. jSTo wonder there were wrecks. 
Xotwithstanding that the Jolin Hancock was named after a 
dead man, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the boat 
lived for eight years after 1832. To name a boat after a deceased 
person is a direct violation of a superstition among steamboat- 
men, and is said to be a certain harbinger of ill luck to the boat. 
The John Hancock sank in Brick House Bend, between the old 
town of St. Charles and the mouth of the Missouri Eiver, in the 
year of 1840, and no living man can to-day point out the exact 
spot where the Hancock lies buried." 

There is no place in the State of ^lissouri where civic pride 
is greater than in that portion of the Greater Kansas City known 
as Westport. From its earliest history Westport has stood 
for commerce, culture, and improvement. It is a distinctive com- 
munitv, discriminating, unique, distinguished for its social and 

27 



intellectual supremacy and its beautiful homes. It is a residence 
district vvitii a personality, hospitable, progressive. From its 
homes radiate a grace and culture that bespeak purity and sense 
in women, honor, intelligence, and gallantry in men. There 
IS an air of Southern aristocracy about the place. 

Who can conceive how far-reaching the influence of this 
district, with the Westport Improvement Association in the fiehi ? 
There is hope for greater and grander work than merely the 
building of monuments in stone to the memory of our worthy 
pioneers, though this in itself is commendable. 

As we enter the twentieth century, and with the field-gla^s 
of memor}', aided by the pen-products of the pioneers, try lo 
survey the past hundred years, we realize that volumes and vol- 
umes of history have been lost to us forever. Each span of a 
hundred years curls up into a century cycle and, like a finished 
volume, is laid upon the shelf. The Westport Improvement 
Association in 1912, with a courageous look into the future, has 
a mission. The Kansas City Historical Society, with headquar- 
ters in historic Westport, should be the recording angel. 




Westport Landing in 18-12. 



28 



DO^vTIPHAX'S EXPEDITION. 
By Hon. Roland Hughes. 



Doniphan's Expedition was the most important event in 
American history since the War for Independence and the adop- 
tion of tlie Constitution. The expedition itself was as remark- 
able as the results accomplished. There is no other military ex- 
pedition in history that compares with it. It started practically 
from Westport. 

At the time this military movement was organized and car- 
ried out there were no settlements (except Indians) west of the 
Missouri Eiver, and no organized government except the Mex- 
ican Grovernment, which prevailed over all the territory not in- 
cluded in the Louisiana Purchase and Texas, and lying west of 
the ^[issouri Eiver. 

After the Louisiana Purchase, the expanding importance of 
the United States excited the envy of the European powers, es- 
pecially England and Spain; and they both viewed with jealous 
eyes the dominating spirit and commercial enterprise of our peo- 
ple. Both these powers were unremitting in their endeavors, by 
intrigue and diplomacy, to involve the United States and Mexico 
in war and thus use the Mexican power to curb the aspiring 
soirit and growing importance of the people of the ITnited States. 
This was psne'-iallv so after the secession of Texas from Mexico 
and its admission as a State into the American Union. 

This event and the occuoation of the strip of disnuted ter- 
ritory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande by the 
American Army under Greneral Taylor was made the ground for 
declaration of war bv the Mexican Oovernment against the 
United States in April, 1846. 

At this time the Mexican territory extended as far north (or 
orobablv farther) as the northern line of California, and, as be- 
fore stated, included all of the country not included in the Louis- 
iana Purchase. The War Deoartment determined to send an 
armv from Port Leavenworth to Santa Fe to operate against this 
portion of the Mexican territor\\ which was designed to start 
from Port Leavenworth, a cantonment of the American Army, 
M'hich had been established bv Captain Henrv Leavenworth w 
1827. 

29 



In pursuance of this plan John F. Edwards, Governor of 
Missouri, about the rniddle of May, 1846, issued a proclamation 
calling for volunteers to rendezvous at Fort IjC^venworth, and 
thus create the "Army of the West," as it was to be known. 

This exjsedition was to be conducted by Col. Stephen W. 
Kearney, of the First Dragoons of the United States Army, who 
was a very skillful and able officer. It was arranged that the 
companies should assemble at Fort Leavenworth and be lettered 
in the order of their arrival. The first company to arrive, and 
which was afterwards known as (^'ompany A, was the compan\ 
from Jackson County, whose captain was David Waldo, of In- 
dependence, and whose lieutenant was John Keid. David I 
Clayton and Henry I. Chiles were second lieutenants. James 
Peacock, of Independence, was also in this expedition, but not 
in this company. He was in the company from Laj Fayette 
County, known as Company B, and whose captain was William 
P. Walton. Captain John W. Peid, who afterwards lived in 
Kansas City, was also in this expedition, but with Company D 
from Saline Countj^, and he was captain of that company and 
served with great distinction and gallantry during the whole 
war. Another distinguished citizen of Jackson County in this 
expedition was Samuel C. Owens, who was circuit clerk of this 
county from to , and who at thi< 

time was engaged in the freighting business to Chihuahua. 
"When the traders were organized into' two companies he was 
taken into this expedition, and after the array passed El Paso 
was elected major of the battalion, and was the first man 
killed in the BatHe of Sacramento, about sixteen miles tin? sidr 
of the city of Chihuahua. 

After the companies were organized at Fort Leavenworth, 
the.y elected Alex. W. Doniphan, of Lihertv, colonel, and this 
expedition has always been known in history as "Doniphan's 
Expedition." 

The first company to respond to this call of Cfovernor Ed- 
wards and arrive at the place of rendezvous marched through the 
town of Westport to Leavenworth. 

The regimental officers were : 

A. W. Doniphan Colonel 

Congreve Jackson Lieutenant-Colonel 

Charles F. Puff Second Lieutenant 

William Gilpin Major 

James A. De Courcy Adjutant 

Thomas M. Morton 4 cting Surgeon 

George Penn .4 rfing Surgeon 

.30 



W. B. D. Moore Acting Surgeon 

I. F. Morton Acting Surgeon 

James Lea Quartermaster 

F. C. Hnghee Sergeant 

Nieholaa Snider Bugler 

This command commenced its march from Fort Leaven- 
worth on the 6th day of June, 1846, and took almost a due south 
course across the Kansas prairies to the Kansas River, where 
the}^ arrived about noon of June 30th. They crossed the Kansas 
River at the mouth of the Wakarusa Creek. There was a Shaw- 
nee Indian by the name of Paschal Fish, who owned some ferry- 
boats there. He was a cousin to old Tecumseh and the Prophet. 
This place was known as "Fish's Ferry." This Shawnee Indian 
lived about a mile south of the river, on a road leading to West- 
port, and kept a tavern there. 

The army remained at this place, after crossing the river, 
until the 2d day of July, because there is a letter extant written 
by the colonel from this point to his excellency John F. Ed- 
wards, Grovernor of Missouri, and dated 

"Headquarters Army of the West, Camp at 
Fish's Ferry on Kansas River, July 2, 1846." 

From this point the army struck the Santa Fe Trail at the 
nearest practicable point. 

This little army of Missouri bov.s marched across an un- 
known countr\' to Santa Fe. from Santa Fe to El Paso, from 
El Paso to Chihuahua, from Chihuahua through the State of 
Durango in Mexico, and from there across the Mexican Republic 
to Saltillo, where it united its forces with those of General Wool. 
More than three thousand miles they marched through the e.i- 
emy's country without any effort to keep up communication with 
any base of supplier, and with the perfect knowledge that if they 
ever met with a solitarv reverse, not a man of them would live 
to tell the tale. 

When thev arrived at Santa Fe they took possession of the 
G-overnor's palace, erected the Stars and Stripes, and by a mili- 
tarv proclamation annexed all of ^ew Mexico, Arizona, N"evada, 
and part of Utah and California to the TTnited States: brought 
in the chief men of the country and had them take the oath r/f 
alleeiance t.o the United States Government; and bv this same 
militarv proclamation made all the inhabitants of that countn- 
citiens of the United States. 

After having taken possession of the countrv and estabh>b- 
ing a civil government. General Sterling Price was left with a 

m 



garrison at Santa Fe to administer the affairs of the new terri- 
tory, and Col. Kearney and Col. Doniphan separated their com- 
mands. Col. Kearney marched across the country west to the 
Pacific Coast to take possession of California and hold it under 
military rule. Col. Doniphan marched down the Eio Grande 
and before reaching El Paso fought the Battle of Erazito. 
where he defeated the Mexican Army, which retreated ahead of 
him to El Paso and crossed the river there. Col. Doniphan, not 
being able to overtake the Mexicans in their retreat, followed on 
to El Paso, where he crossed the Rio Grande and took up 
the march to Chihuahua. After winning the Battle of Sacra- 
mento, he took possession of the city of Chihuahua with his little 
army, and after having opened communication with Gen. Wool, 
who was then at Saltillo, established a civil government at 
Chihuahua, and marched into the State of Durango with his 
armv, and from there across the countrv, where it was united 
witli Gen. Wool at Saltillo. 

Xenophon's Anabasis is regarded in history as the most 
wonderful expedition on record. The ten thousand Greeks 
marched a thousand miles, were defeated and returned with al' 
lost save honor; dejected and broken in spirit. Doniphan's Ex- 
])edition marched more than three thousand miles, never lost a 
baitle, and returned home full of honors and crowned with vic- 
tory, and added an empire to their Government. They accom- 
plished more and said Tess about it than any set of men known in 
history. 

The importance of this expedition and its great accomplish- 
ment does not consist alone in the tremendous things which it 
did and the almost limitless expanse of territorv which it added 
to the United States, but the imn^ediate effect of this expedition 
ii]ion the Mexican War was to require the Mexican Government 
to divide its army, sending one division thereof to meet this ck 
liedition and thus enable Gen. Taylor to win the Battle of Buena 
A'^ista. Avhere it was decided once for all that Anglo-Saxon civili- 
zation, and not Latin civilization, should dominate the American 
Continent, and thus gave to the United States the foundation 
for becoming one of the great and influential powers of the 
world. 

Wlien the company that went out from Jackson Countv re- 
turned to their homes in Julv. 1847, and on the ?Pth dav of 
that month, the good people of Tndenendence and vicinitv gave 
a public dinner and reception to the returning companv, on 
which occasion thev were welcomed home in a speech bv S. IT. 
Woodson, after which Mrs. Buchanan delivered the following 

32 




COL. ALEXANDER W. DONIPHAN. 



oration and preeented Col. Doniphar with a laurel wreath, ''the 
gift of beauty to valor," 

"Eespected Friends: — Long had the world edioed to the 
voice of Fame when her brazen trumpet spoke of the glorier' i-f 
Greece and Eome. The sun looked proudly down upon T..cr- 
mopylse when Leonidas had won a name bright and gloriou? as 
his own golden beams. The soft air of the Italian clime glowed 
as the splendor of a Eoman triumph flashed through the Eternal 
City. But the mantle of Desolation now wraps the mouldering 
pillars of Athens and of Eome, and Fame, deserting her ancient 
haunts, now fills our own fair land with the matchless deeds of 
her heroic sons. Like the diamond in the recesses of the mine, 
lay for centuries the land of Columbia. Like that diamond when 
art's transforming fingers have polished its peerless lustre, it 
now shines the most resplendent gem in the coronal of nations. 

"The records of the Eevolution, tnat dazzling picture in the 
temple of Historj^, presents us with the astonishing sight of men 
whose feet had never trodden the strict paths of military dis- 
cipline, defying, conquering the trained ranks of the "British 
Army, whose trade is war. Nor did their patriotism, their en- 
ergy, die with the Fathers of the Eevolution — their spirit lives 
in their sons. 

"The star which represents Missouri shone not on the ban- 
ner that shadowed the^ venerated heaa of Washington. But the 
unrivaled deeds of the ^lissouri Volunteers have added such bril- 
liancy to its beairs that even he whose hand laid the corner- 
stone of the teiiipic of American liberty, and placed on its fin- 
ished shrines the rescued flag of his country, woidd feel proud 
to give the star of l\rissouri a place nicidst the time-hoiior.'d. 
the far-famed 'old thirteen.' The Spartan, the Athenian, the 
Eoman, who offered on the altar of Mars the most brilliant sacri- 
fices, were trained even from their infancy in all the arts of war. 
The service of the bloody god wa« to them the business of life, 
aye, even its pastime; their verv droams were full of the tumult 
of battle: liut they who hewed asunder with their good swords 
the chains of a British tyrant, and thev who have rendered the 
names of Brazito and Sacramento watchwords to rouse the valor 
of succeeding ages, hurried from the quiet labors of the field, the 
peaceful halls of justice, the cell of the student, and the familiar 
hearth of horn®, to swell the ranks of the defenders of their 
native land. 



34 



''Volunteers of Missouri : — In the history of your coun- 
try, nd brighter page can be found than that which records your 
own bright deeds. Many of you had never welcomed the morn- 
ing light without the sunshine of a mother's smile to make it 
brighter; many of you had known the cares and hardships of 
life only in name ; still you left the home of your childhood and 
encountered perils and sufferings that would make the cheek of 
a Roman soldier turn pale; and encountered them so gallantly 
that Time in his vast calendar of centuries can show none more 
bravely, more freely borne. 

"We welcome you back to your home. The triumph which 
hailed the return of the Csesars, to whose war-chariot was 
chained the known world, is not ours to give; nor do you need 
it. A prouder triumph than Eome could bestow is yours, in thp 
undying fame of your proud achievements. But if the welcome 
of hearts filled with warm love and well-merited admiration, 
hearts best known and longest tried, be a triumph, it is your.-; 
in the fullest extent. 

"The torrent of eloquence to which you have just listened, 
thei rich feast that awaits 3^ou, are the tributes of j^oiir own sex; 
but we, the fairer part of creation, must offer ours also. 

"CoLOXEL Poxiphan: — In the name of the ladies who sur- 
round me, I bestow on you this laurel wreath — in every age and 
every clime the gift of beauty to valor. In placing it on the 
brow of him who now kneels to receive it, I place it on the 
brows of all who followed where so brave, s» dauntless a com- 
mander led. It is true that around the laurel wreath is twined 
every association of orenuis, glory, and valor, but I feel assured 
that it was never placed on a brow more worthy to receive it than 
his on which it now rests — the Hero of Sacratmento." 

I herewith append a roster of the Jackson County Com- 
pany, from which it will be seen that many of the descendants 
of these gallant men are still living in this county. Many of 
them have achieved fame and fortune in other lands. I do not 
know of any survivors of this company that live in this county. 

An attempt to give an account of the subsecfuent history of 
the members of this famousi company or that of their descend- 
ants would extend this article beyond a reasonable limit. 

Roster of Company A. (Jackson County.) 

David Waldo Captain 

John Eeid First Lieutenant 

David I. Clayton Second Lieutenant 

Henry I. Chiles. Second Lieutenant 

35 



Simeon Oldham Second Lieutenant 

John S. Webb First Sergeant 

Richard B. Buckner Sergeant 

Samuel S. White Sergeant 

Richard Simpson Sergeant 

James Munday Corporal 

Thos. Moore Corporal 

Jesse Frierson Corporal 

William E. Bush Corporal 

Lemuel Jepson Bugler 

Chas. Miller Bugler 

Joseph W. Hamilton Farrier 

Privates. 

And, Francis L. Gilpin, William 

Asbury, Squire Gibson, John R. 

Bean, Samuel Greenwood. Fontleroy D. 

Berry, Frank Hamilton, Christoi-lier C. 

Boswell, William Haines, Michael T). 

Bush, William D. Hildebrand, Levi 

Burton, William T. Jones, David A. 

Burton, Beverly I. Jenks, Christopbei- 

Bowland, James Johnson, Waldo P. 

Clift, James H. , Killbuck, Washington 

Cog-swell, William King, Walter 

Copeland, William L. Knighton, Porry 

Copeland, Anthony N". Lucas, John T. 
Cox, James ' Lucas, James A. 

Carlton, Ezekiel Lacy, I. E. 

Cannon, William N". Latz, Benjamin 

Campbell, John E. Lindsay, Alfred 0. 

Clavd^on, James E. Lillard, Morgan 

Capell. Britten Lemmons, Benjamin 

Capell, John L Lemmons, Washington 

Chiles. Elijah J. Lewis, Richard 

Crabtree, Isaac Moody, Andrew J. 

Crensbaw, John T. Mount, Thornton A. 

Douglas, Oliver T. Meek, Robert G. 

Ells, Nathan Maim, Christopher 

Forrest, Lorenzo D. Maim, El son 

Foster, William McMurrav, John H. 

Flournoy, Matthew I. Massie, Thomas H. 

Franklin, John R. McElrath, James 

Fugate, Francis McKeller, John 

36 



Xichols, Daniel 
Noland, Jesse 
Overton, William E. 
Owens, James W. 
Pattou, John W. H. 
Pringle, Geo. A. 
Palmer, Jonathan R. 
Parish, Sidney G. 
Phelps, Richard S. 
Patterson, Andrew J. 
Patrick, Dudley 
Pool, James M. 
Powell, David I. 
Pollard, Samuel A. 
Rennick, Chatham M. 
Riggs, Green B. 
Riggs, Henry C. 
Riggs, William C. 
Ryan, Henry M. 
Smith, Hugh N. 
Sprague, Davis 



Sharpe, George 
Sharp, Leonard B. 
Sears, Peter A. 
SjDeed, James 
Triplett, Zela 
Tyler, Perry I. 
Vigus, John K. 
White, Wafer S. 
Wear, John 
Wear, James A. 
Wear, Abraham W. 
Wear, Samuel C. 
Watts, John S. 
Wilson, John C. 
Waller, Shelby 
Webb, George B. 
Walker, Collins 
Woodland, John L. 
Wallace, James W. 
Young, William M. 
Zellers, Henry 



37 



AUBKEY'S RIDE. 



The Yankee wins the bet and holds the trophies for speed 
never surpassed over the Old Santa Fe Trail. 

F. X. Aubre}^, a famous energetic charactei, familiar at 
Westport and Independence, made the most memorable horse- 
back trip over the Old Santa Fe Trail. In the late forties he 
came from New Y'ork to Independence, bought a lot of teams 
and started into business as a freighter. Such was his push and 
vim that he made two trips a season. One day, while discussing 
freighting and the length of time it ought to take to cover tlie 
distance between Independence and Santa Fe, a distance of 775 
miles, Aubrey made the bold assertion that he would start alone 
on a single horse and push through in eight days. A dis- 
pute arose, and the result was that Aubrey offered a wager of 
$5,000 that he could start on a thoroughbred horse he had, of 
unusual speed and endurance, and with the liberty to Imy such 
horses as he might need on the way, and so remount himself as 
often as he had a chaHoe, and be in Independence at the Stage 
Station in less than eight days of twenty-four hours each, from 
the time he left Santa Fe. The money was covered and the 
wager made. Aubrey started and was in Independence, Mo., in 
just seven days and ten hours froin the time he said good-bye to 
Santa Fe; he remounted himself twice. 

Then a second wager "was made. The parties who had lost 
the $5,000 managed to make a wager of $10,000 a side with 
Aubrey. This time he was to go from, Santa Fe to Independence 
in six days. It was at the best season of the year, there were no 
rains, the grass was good and the Trail as hard as a pavement. 
Aubrey had the same liberty to remount himself as often as he 
could l3uy a horse that he preferred to his own; he was not per- 
mitted to arrange relays or post-horses in advance. He started 
out of^ Santa Fe on a Sunday; all he had with him to eat was a 
little dried beef, expecting to get food at the stage stations 
along the Trail. Saturday afternoon of the same week he rode 
into the public square at Independence, winning the race by fivo 
hours. He was just five dayse and nineteen hours riding the 775 
miles, and had used eleven horses. He had two skirmishes with 

38 



the Indians and had been chased by them at the Oinjarron cross- 
ing of the Arkansas, and again at Pawnee Eoek. He escaped, 
however, with nothing worse than an arrow tlirough his arm. 
When he slipped from the saddle at Independence, he had not 
slept a wink for fifty-six hours. Bystanders asserted that he 
was sound asleep the instant he touched the ground. Aubrey 
was carried into the hotel and put to bed, and did not open his 
eyes again until Monday about two o'clock. He won $15,000 on 
these two races, and in the last one made a record for long- 
distance riding never surpassed. Aubrey was stabbed to death 
at Santa Fe by Major Weightman, in a dispute over a lie that 
Aubrey accused Weightman of having told. Col. Edward Haren, 
of Westport, saw Aubrey at Los Angeles a short time before his 
death. Col. Haren has recently presented to the Kansas City 
Historical Society a newspaper clipping concerning Aubrey's ride 
and wager. Judge T. E. Peacock, of Independence, said that 
he saw Aubrey lifted off his horse at Independence at the end oT 
his famous ride. 



39 




STERLING PRICE, 
Major-General C. S. A. 



BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL STERLING PRIOE. 
By Mrs. Wili.iam Shields Clagett. 



States are not great, except as men make them; 
Men are not great, except as they do and dare. 

— Eugene F. Ware. 

To be a Missourian is a blessed heritage; to liave been a 
child in Missouri in the stirring days of the sixties, with the 
clean, unwritten page of life to be tilled with indelible and char- 
acter-moulding impressions, was indeed an unique jjrivilege, 
for it welded us just a little more as one with our State. In this 
the name of General Sterling Price was a strong factor. Where 
is the child who could forget, or cease to venerate the name of 
"Pap" Price, as it fell from the lips of idolized, grown-up young 
men of her acquaintance, wearing tiie jaunty little military cap 
of gray and shining brass buttons? Why, it was tlie center and 
circuniference of all things on earth. What cared we for Dixie 
Land or the happy land of Canaan, so long as Missouri was right 
in the front ranks with her General Sterling Price? It is said 
that to none of our State heroes have we accorded such generou:; 
and unstined praise. Yet the writer and the historian have done 
but little for him. Indeed, it is only within the last few years 
that the South's irreproachable King Arthur, Robert E. Lee, 
has been given his merited place in the printed page. We of the 
South seem to have been possessed all unconsciously of a feel- 
ing of smug coutentedness, and belief that such apparent worthi- 
ness would be reognized by the world without a blare of trumpets. 
We have now reached a safe distance from the field of action for 
a true valuation; from interests and counter-interests, to give to 
men from both sides their rightful place in history. Then may 
we expect our own beloved State will exploit one who ranked 
with Lee and Jackson in its memory, and the cause which he 
espoused. W. L. Webb, in his "Battles and Biographies of Mis- 
sourians," has sounded a rousing key-note. 

Sterling Price was born in Prince Edward Comity, Vir 
ginia, in 1809. His education was completed at Hampden and 
Sydney, and later by studying law. He came of a good, intelli- 
gent, and well-to-do family. In 1831 he moved with hia father's 

41 



faiiiily to Missouri and settled ou a farm in Ciiariton Oounty, 
which remained his home as long as he lived. Like most young 
men, he cast about in different ways for a living; first as tobacco 
commission merchant, a leading industry in ]\Lissouri in those 
days, and then hotel proprietor. His hotel is still shown in Salis- 
bury, Mo. In 184:0 he represented his county in the Legislature. 
While but little known outside of his own county and only 
thirty-one years old, he was made Speaker of the House. So 
satisfactory was he as a presiding officer that he was similarly 
honored the next term. From this time he was the most promi- 
nent man in the State, in civil and military affairs. While chair- 
man of the convention that framed the Constitution of our 
State, it is said that he suggested the motto which is and will be 
Missouri's for all tini.e, ''lSah(s popuji siiprema lex est," "The 
welfare of the people is the supreme law.'- In 184G he was 
elected to Congress. After serving two years, he resigned to go 
to the Mexican War. He offered his services to President Polk 
and was appointed by him lo enlist the Second Missouri 
Mounted A'^olunteers, with the commission of colonel. After the 
regiment was raised and rendezvoused at Fort Leavenworth, he 
declined the honor of the promotion conferred by the President, 
until it was voted upon by his men and he was unanimously 
elected by them. With this regiment he captured Taos, Nev/ 
Mexico. He commanded the Battle of Canada, iSTew Mexico, 
January 24, 1847 ; in July of the same year he was promoted to 
brigadier- general and later was appointed Militarv Governor of 
Chihuahua. On March Ifi, 1848. he won the Battle of Santa 
Cruz de Eosales. At the close of the war he returned with his 
troops to Missouri. They were accorded great consideration and 
open-handed hospitality. At the next general election, in 185?, 
General Price was elected Governor by a sweeping majority. 
While Governor he urged that the salary of his successor he 
raised. The act was passed, making it operative at once, but he 
never drew the balance due him. At the close of his four years 
of office, he retired to his farm in Chariton County, but not to 
retirement from public life, for he wa^ State bank commissioner 
from 1857 to 1861. Only four tranquil years of country life 
was spent before the war between the States again called him 
to arms. He was chairman of the Second Constitutional Conven- 
tion, which declared against slavery. When the Gamble Con- 
vention first met, he was a strong TTnion man. Genera] Price 
loved the Government for which he had fought and bled, but 
to a Virginian States' rights came first. The precipitation of 
Federal forces and authority into the State by the capture of 

42 



(Jaiiijj Jackiiuii deiermined Lim to oiier his military services to 
Governor Jackson in driving from tlie State such men as Lyon, 
and to maintain the purity of the Government by its own oi- 
iicials. it was not for secession. He organized a Missouri Army 
of mounted volunteers, called the State Guards, and was given 
the commission of major-general by Governcr Jackson. It was 
a Missouri Army and marched under the flag of Missouri. Thi;-. 
army fought the battles of Wilson Creek, Dry Fork, Lexington, 
Pea Eidge, and a score of others. It was not till after the Bat- 
tle of Pea Eidge in March, 1862, that the flag of Missouri was 
folded and that of the Stars aud Bars wat raised. General 
Price then became a Confederate soldier and went to tight east 
of the Mississippi Piver. He was made major-general in the 
Confederate Army. He had endeared himseif to his men auu 
State with lasting ties. McElroy, in his "The Struggle for 
Missouri," and with small leaning to the Confederate side, de- 
scribes him as "'white-haired, large of frame, imposing, benignant, 
paternal, inflexible as to what he considered principles."^ He- 
was of massive proportions, six feet two inches in stature. Hiir 
face was ruddy and was framed by silver white hair and whiskcis 
worn in the old English fashion. His voice, was clear and ring- 
ing, suited to command. Pie had the bearing and ease of r. 
polished gentleman. His men loved and venerated him; he lovc! 
and cared for them. 

At the Battle of Lexington he recovered nine hundreti 
thousand dollars from the Federal forces and returned it to the 
bank officials to whom it belonged. He was thanked by the 
Confederate Congress for ability shown in this engagement. 
During his Confederate service, the women of New Orleans pre- 
sented him with a sword costing one thousand dollars in gold. 
General Price, as Grand Commander, with the assistance oi' 
Southern sympathizers who lived in the North, organized the 
American Knights of the State of Missouri. About twenty-five 
thousand Missourians associated themselves with this order. He 
made a raid into the State in September, 1S64, getting as far 
north as Kansas City, really to the Kansas line, when he was 
driven back at the Battle of Westport and went south to 
Arkansas. His plan to secure recruits from the American 
Knights of Missouri had been frustrated by General Eosecrans, 
of the Federal forces. After the war, G*eneral Price went to 
Mexico and obtained from the Archduke Maximilian a grant 
of land near Cordova and founded a colony of ex-Confederate 
officers. With the downfall of Maximilian the grant became 
worthless, and in 1867 G^eneral Price returned to St. Louis. He 

43 



opened up a tobacco commission wareliouse on Commercial Street, 
under the name of Sterling Price. He died at his home on 
Chouteau Avenue, September 29, 1SG7. His remains rests in 
beautiful Bellefontaine, the leading cemetery of St. Louis. His 
wife was Miss Shepard, of Chariton County, Missouri. She died 
during the war. The Shepard family were originally from Albe- 
marle Countv, A^irgiuia. Four children, three sons and a daugh- 
ter, survived him: Stump, Celsus, Celeste, who married E. B. 
Willis, a wholesale dry goods merchant of Galveston, and Quin- 
tus, the only one of the immediate family now living 



44 



THE UFTON PIAYS BRIGADE. 
By Albert N. Doersohuk. 



Upton Hays was commissioned as a captiiin of cavalry in the 
Confederate Army in 1861, for the purpose of raising troops 
in and around Westport, to be taken south for the defense of 
the Confederacy. Eecrnits came in rapidly, po. that his company 
was soon a regiment engaged in defending property in Jackson 
Connty and vicinity l>elonging to Sonthern sympathizers against 
marauders and the Kansas invasion. His title was raised to colo- 
nel of the Second Missouri Cavalry, and under this he fought and 
won the Battle of Lone Jack, than which no more sanguinary con- 
flict was fought in the West. His regiment after this was much 
above the usual thousand men and was named a brigade, in which 
many men enlisted and were drilled and sent forward in com- 
panies to join other troops. It is estimated that mere than five 
thousand men joined this command as stationed in Jackson 
County. At the height of his career Col. Hays, in leading a 
charge on Wisconsin troops near Newtonia, IMissouri. was shot 
through the head, and thus ended the career of one of Missouri's 
bravest citizens. 

Col. ITpton Hays was a Missourian. He lived in Jackson 
County. He was a man that never knew an hour of fear. Per- 
haps no finer horseman ever rode hard ovei the prairies. He 
was brave, generous, trne, devoted, noble — a patriot. Is it any 
wonder, then, that when the rallying Imgles pounded for volun- 
teers. Upton Hays should gallop straight to the front? To him 
a forlorn hope was a sure token of victory. The Rerv- crown of 
Lone Jack sat w^ell above the eyes of 'Trim ^\'llO wa? the first in 
all that bright company.'' In hi« distresp and cha-rrin at the 
occiipancv of Westport by a greatly superior number of Fed- 
rrals at about the time of Order ^o. 11, ho with two brave 
comrades one fine fall afternoon, while the streets of Westport 
were crowded with soldiers and citizens and all things invited 
life, invited death bv a bold gallop to tlT^ "square" in front of 
the Harris House hotel, where on a tall pole was hoisted a large 
new silk flag, onlv recently presented to the commandant bv the 
loval ladies of Westport; this flag was mad.^ r^ fine silk, hard 
to obtain at that time, at the home of Mrs. Little; and among 
those surviving who helped in this labor of love arc Mrs. Susan 

Carter Cerhart, Susan Dillon, and "Mrs. Hank Aiken, 

Upton Hays cut the halliards, lowered the flag, wrapped it 

45 




UPTON HAYS, 
(^olonel 2d Missouri Cavalry, C. 8. A. 



around his body, and spurred out of town with derisive yells at 
the guards, whose lives they might easily have takeu, but humane- 
ly spared. Col. Hays had this liag sewed io the lining of his 
overcoat and wore this at the time he was >hot, and it formed 
a part of the shroud in which he was baried. His brigade had in 
it the best blood of Jackson County; had in it men who at a 
word would have ridden booted and spurred into eternity. And 
oh, so manj^, so many did ride this gait to death ! After Lone 
Jack three regiments marched southward rapidly. Death made 
sad havoc later with the commanding officer in the field, but t:» 
destroy and to kill is the fate of war. To show his peerless self- 
possession, it is known that he snapped six caps upon one re- 
volver before his enemies could bring a carbine to a present; this 
tells of his wonderful dexterity. The powder was wet, and thus in 
full prowess he left the field and life and all its Joys that were 
to him so dear. 

Col. Upton Hays, in addition to being a hero, was a Free 
Mason, and belonged to the Golden Square Lodge, No. 107, lo- 
cated in Westport. His wife and family underwent all the priva- 
tion and horrors of war at their homo at Sixty-third Street and 
Prospect Avenue, which was maliciously burned about 1864. 
His wife still lives in California. After the death of Col. Hays. 
Lieut. -Col. Shank succeeded in tomm.and of this brigade, which 
nobly acquitted itself in th(^ Rattle of Westport and in subse- 
quent engagements. H. J. A'ivian was major in Upton Hays's 
regiment; of him Jolui Kritsei'. now m;ir-bal of Taylor, Texas, 
who siTvcd in this com'inand. savs: "There was no better or more 
fearless hor^^eman or soldier in the Civil War than Major Vivian. 
He was tall, erect, wore a small military goatee, and distin- 
guished himself particularlv on the field of Lone Jack, where he 
was several tim.es wounded.'' "He was the hero of all the ladies: 
in fact, his worst trouble was to keep from getting married," says 
Col. George P. Hro-is. ^Tajor Vivian -till lives in Kan>;as Citv. 
at 2001 Campbell Street. 

Survivors in 1912 of men enlisted in five service of the Con- 
federacy at Kansas City, under the Upton Hays Brigade: 

Jeff Boggs, Lee's Summit, Mo., Co. E. 

John Brown, Oak Grove, Mo. 

J. M. Burrus. Kansas City, Mo., Co. B. 

Davis Clark, Blue Springs, Mo. 

Pat Costello, Buckner, Mo. 

Willis Duncan, Lee's Summit, ^lo. 

C. C. Fields, Independence. ^To.. P. P. D. l^o. H. Co. K, 
Maj. H. J. Vivian. 

47 



Charlee Duncan, Oak Grove, Mo. 

W. W. Fields, Independence, Mo., B. B". D. No. 3, Co. K, 
Maj. H. J. Vivian. 

J. H. George, Oak Grove, Mo., Co. D. 

T. A. Gill, Kansas City, Mo., Co. K, .Maj. H. J. Vivian. 

William Greer, Lexington, Mo. 

A. G. Hall, Independence, Mo., Co. II. 

Joseph Hahn, Oak Grove, Mo. 

James Hambright, Buckner, Mo., Co. E. 

Sam Hamilton, Greenwood, Mo., Co. E. 

— . ^. Harding, Oak Grove, Mo., Co. D. 

Alex. Holloway, Kansa.'^ City, Mo.. Co. l\, Maj. 11. J. Vivian. 

Jno. G. Holloway Kansas City, Mo.. Co. K, Maj. H. J. 
Vivian. 

Wm. Holloway, Kansas City. Mo.. Co. K, Maj. H. J. Vivian. 

Wm. Hopkins, Bine Springs. Mo., Co. B. 

Jno. T. House, Little Blue, Mo.. Co. K, Maj. H. J. Vivian. 

Wm. M. Johnson, Shawnee Mission, Kas. 

John Kritser, Taylor, Tex. 

H. V. P. Kabriek" Oak Grove, Mo. 

0. H. Lewis, Lee's Summit, ^fo., Co. E. 

W. H. Mills, Kansas Citv, Mo., Co. K. 

E. A. Morre, Grain Valley, :\Io., Co. K. 

William ]\[uir, Lee's Summit, ^lo. 

Thomas Noland, Lee's Summit, "Mo. 

E. B. Pallett, Oak Grove, ^\o. 
David Scrivner, Belton, Mo., Co. E. 
Frank Smith, Blue Springs, .Mo., Co. B. 
W. T. Smith. Independence, Mo. 

Alfred S])ainhouer, Lone Jack, Mo., Co. G. 
William Sjiainhouer, Lone Jack, Mo., Co. K, Maj. H. J. 
Vivian. 

L. S. Steele, Lawrence, Kas., Co. K. Maj. Tl. ,T. Vivian. 

Joseph St. Clair, Blue Springs, Mo. 

.Tohn W. Tatum, Blue Springs, ^lo., Co. B. 

Thos. B. Tatum, Blue Springs, Mo., Co. B. 

Jno. W. Tyer, Lee's Summit. ^lo., Co. E. 

Jno. P. Webb. Oak Grove, Mo. 

F. M. Webb, Oak- Grove, Mo. 

J. A. Webb, Independence, Mo.. R. V. D. No. 3. 
Jas. S. Whitsett, Vega, Tex., Co. E. 
George Wiggenton, Independence, Mo., Co. B. 
Maj." H. j'. Vivian, 2901 Campbell St., Kansa'^ City. Mo., 
Co. K. ' 

48 



WAR OF 1812 CENTEN>sriAL YEAR. 



This is the centennial year of the War of 1812. One hundred 
years ago the United States engaged in the second great con- 
flict with England, and won the freedom of the seas. 

The Society of the Descendants of the Soldiers and Sailors 
engaged in the conflict have a very active organization in this 
city. The local chapters are collecting data concerning the use 
of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, when they were commercial 
highways in the early days of Westport. 

From 1812 to i912 the United Sfates has given quite as 
much attention to the commerce on the waters as on the land, 
and this period has seen the rise and fall of the Missouri River 
connuerce. 

Just a centurv since Francis Scott Kev gave to America 
her national air, "The Star-spangled Banner," in which the sons 
of the North and the sons of Dixie johi to-dav with the sons of 
the sea^ a united land with the freedom of the waters on rivers 
and seas. 

The centennial exercises commemorating the greatest naval 
battle the world has ever known are especially suggestive. Perry's 
flag-ship, the Niaga7-o, is being raised and tlie National Society of 
the Descendants of 1812 have arranged most appropriate cen- 
tennial services, and tlie guests from England are to be as nu- 
merous as the guests from America were at the unveiling of the 
chapel at Princeton, England, a few rears ago; the same being a 
memorial to the soldiers and sailors lost in this war. 

Tho next reunion at Westport should emphasize the idea of 
the port which was. in fact, the life of its municij^al existence. 
Why not raise the Iwats that are resting in the Missouri ? Why 
not run a set of lioats on the river again, and, in defiance of 
superstition, name them after the victors of 1812? 

"Don't give up the ship, boys." The river also' lias some his- 
tory which, in connection witli William Beclcnell's pack-mule 
train in 1812, is worthy of particular mention in this centennial 
celebration. 



49 



BATTLE OF WESTPOET. 



In May, 1864, President Lincoln, in a letter to General 
Eosecrans, asked him to inform tlie Government concerning" the 
secret organizations in Missouri that were recruiting for the 
Army of the Confederacy, whereupon General Eosecrans issued 
his famous General Order No. 107, calling upon all loyal, able- 
liodied men of IMissouri to enlist in the Federal Army. 

Early in the month of September, 1804, a rumor that Major- 
General Sterling Price, with the Army of the Trans-Mississi])pi, 
then occupying the territory of southern Arkansas, contemplated 
another of his famous raids through ]\Ii?souri and into Kansas, 
was little credited by the Federal commander, l\Iajor-General 
W. S. Eosecrans, then stationed at St. Louis. However, he sent 
east for Major-General Alfred F. Pleasanton to take the field 
command of all the troops in the Department of Missouri that 
were to take the field in opposing any movement of Price in the 
State. It became apparent early in October that Price was plan- 
ning a well-organized invasion that nmst be met with the com- 
bined strength of this armv and the Armv of the Border under 
INIajor-General Samuel E. Curtis, stationed at Fort Leavenworth. 
Kansas. To this end Eosecrans ordered troops numbering about 
0,000 fighting men to assemble at the S^ato capital and General 
Pleasanton took command. 

Price's advance to within sight of Jefferson City was marked 
bv successful skirmishes and a genuine scare to the citv of St. 
Ijouis, the first objective point of "the hoi>o" of the Confederacy. 

Before this second objecHve point there was a strong un- 
explainable retreat, the reason for which was entombed in the 
brain of General Price; but this foiled the plan of Eosecrans to 
catch the "old fox" bv engaging him in battle around his sup- 
posed coveted eoal in Missouri. "WTiat actuallv happened was a 
maneuver by Pagan's division Avhich gave Price time tn move 
his forces and an immiense wagon train into a line of march, 
headed for the third objective point. Kansas City. Eosecrans had 
kept Curtis fullv informed, and in anticipation of this movement 
the Army of the Border fortified with extensive earthworks 
along the western bank of the Big Blue Eiver south to Hiclrman 

50 



Mills and before Kansas City; also cennecting that city with 
Wyandotte, Kansas, by a floating bridge. 

The Ten Days'" March. 

Characterized with an obsolete military plan of daily review, 
by marching the rear division to the front each morning, while 
the "driftwood" of Missouri, if armed, joined the ranks as fight- 
ing timber; if unarmed, they were mobilized with the wagon 
train. "The drnm" certainly sounded in the ear of all Con- 
federate s3Tnpathizers, and the sentiment of Alexander Hamil- 
ton's old favorite song was enacted. "Raw recruits from Mis- 
souri, Quantrill the Eaider and "Bill" Anderson, with firmed 
forces, joined rriee. The Confederate organizations reported 
for duty several thousand strong. Considerable care was taken 
by the Confederate leaders in the assignment of division com- 
manders under Prict' : ]\raj.-Gen. James F. Fagan, First Di\ison; 
Maj.-Gen. John S. Marmaduke, Second Division; Erig.-Gen. 
Joseph 0. Shelby, Third Division. The combined strength of the 
three divisions was about 9,000 men. 

Political' points mnst here be eliminated, but space is given 
to mention two political aspirants, Thomas C. Eeynolds, Lieu- 
tenant-Governor under Jackson's deposed administration and 
claimant to the gubernatorial seat in Missouri, was with Price's 
army. "The Pevnolds Manuscript," published for the first time 
in 1905, by Paul B. Jenkins in his book, "The Battle of West- 
port," is the unfinished escutcheon that the key t-o the Confed- 
erate plans in Missouri probably fitted. With "The Army of 
the Border," assigned to staff duty, was the Pepublican nominee 
for Governor of Kansas, Hon. S. J. Crawford, who has written 
a very good account of "The Bailie of Westport" in his "Kansas 
in the Sixties," published in 1011. Judge John F. Phillips pub- 
lished a good' account in the Sfar in May, 1912. 

Political conditions in Kansas threatened the success of 
Curtis to mobilize the Militia, but with his order for the troops 
to assemble at Kansas City, he also placed Kansas under martial 
law. The question was. Could he take the Militia out of the 
State? He did, and was awaiting Price's army, whose van en- 
gaged his scouts about three miles south of Lexington. The 
sharp little engagement caused Price to halt his whole army and 
Shelby's division to put his artillery in action. General Blunt, 
commanding the Federal scouts, then fell back to the bank of 
the Little Blue, eight miles east of Independence. Shelb^^s re- 
mark, that he "either met Blunt or the Devil," has gained great 
popularity. 

51 




JUDGE JOHN F. PHILIPS, 
Colonel Seventh Missouri Federal Cavalry. 



Ou the 20th General Curtis, at Bhmt^s request, reinforced 
him by ordering the Fourth Brigade, under Col, Ford, and the 
Independent Battery of Colorado V^:)lunteers, under Captain Mc- 
Lain, to join Blunt's forces. lie commanded them that they 
contest every inch of Price's advance, to compel him to develop 
an attack, thus fighting back to tlie trenches at the Big Blue 
Eiver. Blunt's position at the Little Blue was well chosen. An 
admiring aide on his staff said: "Had he been reinforced, he 
could have held the bridge until Grant reached Appomatox." 
As a last detail, he fell back, at dusk, ordering JMajor Martin An- 
derson and two companies of the Eleventh Kansas to haul a load 
of hay on the bridge, whicii was to be fired upon the approach of 
the Confederates. 

This was Fagan's day in the van of Price's army; to-morrow 
he would be in the rear with the train, and Major-General Mar- 
maduke (the flower of Southern chivalry) would lead Price's 
army, supported by the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, Col. Robert 
Law leading, reinforced by a detachment of the Third Missouri 
Cavalry, under Col. Greene, and the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, 
under Col. S. G. Kitchen. On llio dawn of this, to-morrow, Octo- 
ber 21st, Blunt's men would fire the bridge in the face of their 
splendid foe. When General Curtis came upon tlie scene at day- 
break, Blunt's troops were on the west side of the little stream, 
prepared to give battle. 

The brigade was dismounted and arrayed on a wooded slope. 
Moonlight's men and four howitzers in the center, Jennison's 
men on the right, the Third Wisconsin Cavalry forming his right, 
the Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry forming his left. Ford on ^loon- 
light's left, with McLain's Colorado Battery in the center of his 
line, the Sixteenth Kansas to tlie left of it, and the Second Col- 
orado at the right. 

While the line was waiting for the Corfederates' attack 
Curtis rode up and took command, and the men of the Eleventh 
Kansas Cavalry greeted him with "Rally 'round the flag, boys." 

In Gen. Marmaduke's report he said his engineering com- 
pany improvised another bridge, but the most of his men forded 
the little stream and opened lire upon the Federals. General 
Curtis himself directed first the resistance, then an orderly re- 
treat. The second Colorado Cavalry lost their major-general, 
J. H. Smith, in this engagement. Captain G. L. Grove, Com- 
pany G, Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, died in the Harris House in 
Westport a few days later; this hotel being used as a hospital. 

General Curtis's personal escort numbered about forty mili- 
tary men. Fifteen of the forty men had their horses shot from 

53 



imiler tlieiii, vvlnle (JurUs so learlessly resisted tiie onsiaugkt of 
Marmaduke. Major K. H. Hunt, with two howitzers attached 
to (Jurtis's personal escort, did sojiic distinguiiihed ervice and 
shares with Major- General Eoss, of the Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, 
and an orderly named Bloomer^ the honor of saving a gun b) 
cutting the harness from the dead horses: in the act Major Hunt 
was struck by a piece of an exploding shell. General Marma- 
duke had two horses killed in this engagement while he was in 
the saddle. The Confederate loss is unknown. BJunt estimates 
the Federal loss at about 20U killed, wounded, and missing. 

On the 21st General Curtis received at Independence a 
telegram that in the Shenandoah, Sheridan had defeated Early. 
Messages of the news of this Federal victory were sent to all the 
troops; by the same messengers he also made public his determined 
intention to strike a decisive blow to check the invading armj 
in Missouri at the Big Blue the next day. General Price aisu 
sent a message into Kansas City, stating that he would take 
supper in Fort Leavenworth in two days, his chief objective 
point; evidently with tlie design of causing Curtis to flank him 
on the south and thereby weakening his force protecting the 
Independence road into Kansas City. The night of the "^Ist Gen- 
eral Curtis gave his personal attention to the fortifications at 
Wyandotte, moving several of the regiments, whose leaders had 
been instructed that they could not move them beyond the bor- 
ders of the State, by certain political demagogues, and, after 
securing as well as he could against the possible "get away'' of 
Price into "the borders" of Kansas, his fourth objective point, 
with Fort Leavenworth his ultimate aim. General Curtis rode 
to his field headquarters, located about where Fifteenth Street 
crosses the Big Blue Kiver. Along the line of this treacherous 
stream, from where it pours its waters into the Missouri south 
to Hickman Mills, was almost fifteen miles of efficient trenches, 
a magnificent battle-line. By felling trees the fordable places 
in the stream had been obstructed, and the crossings were forti- 
fied with reinforcedl ditches. They did not consider the ad- 
vantage the trees on the opposite bank were to be to their 
adversaries. 

The Position of the Men. 

The troops to the left of Chirtis' headquarters, extending 
to the Missouri Elver, were . under the general command of 
Maj.-Gen. G. W. Deitzler, of the ICansas jMilitia, -^oO men of the 
Fourth Kansas guarding the mouth of the Blue on the extreme 
north end; next south was the Second Kansas Colored State 

54 



Militia, under Captains R. J. Hinlon ami .1. \j. J^afety; next 
south the Sixth Kansas State Militia Keginient, cominantied by 
Col. Jas. Montgomery (succeeding Col. J. S. Snoddyj. The 
Ninth Wisconsin Battery, undrr Captain Jnnies II. Dodge and 
the famous Independence Colorado Batter\-, spoken of also as the 
Second Colorado Cavalry (whose leader was killed at the Little 
Blue), Major J. H. Pritcliard now in command, next in line; 
and completing I'nrtis's left wing was the Tenth Kansas and a 
section of the Second Kansas, under Lieuteuiint D, C. Knowles; 
south of them at Byrom's Ford, under Colonel \\. D. iMcLain, 
the Fourth Kansas, holding the reinforced trenclns. 1^) their 
right the war partners, Jennison's First Brigade an] Moonligiifs 
Second Brigade of Kansas \ ( lunteer Cavalrv lined v\) a< fur 
south as Hickman Mills Crossing, which was held by Brig.-lien. 
M. S.' Grant with 100 ujen and one brass howitzer. This hand- 
ful of men from Kansas with the gun were from the Second and 
Twenty-first Kansas, under Ca]»tain J. T. Burnes, of the Second 
Kansas. Against this splendid battle-line early in the morning 
Price moved his fighting force, with Shelby in the van; his ad- 
vance guard drove in the outposts and pickets immediately in 
front of Greneral Curtis's headquarters. I'rice was too ehrewd an 
old soldier to get his array into tbe death-trap — the Missouri 
Eiver on the north, Pleasanton's forces on the east, Curtis on 
the west with a right flank maneuver to effect the concentration 
of his troops; but Curtis, appreliending liis plan to miikc an at- 
tack on the Federal left — that attention might be drawn from 
his right — warned his right wing, and fell back to a position 
where he could watch the game; Price then massed his men 
along the eastern l)ank of the Big Blue in the face of the Kansas 
fire and did some courageous and tenacious fighting. Shelby's 
guns answered those of Jennison, IMoonlight, and Blair, and 
then the Confederate cavalry dismounted and crept up close to 
the water's edge; from behind trees they kept up an interesting 
fire, which was wdth equal energy returned by the Federals. At 
this point Curtis sent a message to his right wing saying to look 
out for an attack, because Price was making but feeble demon- 
strations before his left. As expected, they moved along the line 
little by little to the southward, evidently testing the strength 
of the line, hoping to capture a crossing or to drive Curtis's right 
wing back to the trenches at Kansas (*ity, thereby gaining West- 
port. Between 3 and 5 o'clock there was desperate fighting on 
both sides, with practically all the troops of the Confederate 
Army engaging with the combined Federal forces of twice their 
number. The routing of Marmaduke through the fields west of 

55 



[ndependence was going oji at the same time tliat. the "raw re- 
cruits" along Curtis's extreme soiitli line forsook the buttle and 
did a little exercising on their own lioolc. Col. A. S. Johnson'i 
(unlucky) Thirteenth Kansas Eegiment seemed to be flying a 
well-lmown motto of the '()Us, '•Bound for Kansas," instead of 
the flag of chivalry. They were farmers accustomed to giving 
orders under this motto : 

"Whoa there, Bill! go "long there. Buck! 
Bound for Kansas — dani ray luck \" 

But Major T. I. McKenny, inspector-general of Curtis's forces, 
buspecting that they were getting 'old fee!,, was in their rear, 
and when they ran he L-heckcd their speed with a life-and-death 
proposition, but allowed Ihem to fall hack in a decent order of 
retreat. The "gap"' they left was quickly filled by the enemy, 
flanking Jennison's and Moonlight's brigade and cutting off 
completely General M. S. Grant at the Hickman iMills crossing, 
who lost by capture the mm of the Second Kaii^as under him 
and the State's big brass gun, but made h;^- c5C?po, as did Veale 
and his men of the Twenty-first Kansas. Colonel Bonebrake's 
article published in this booklet is an account of his personal ex- 
perience in thisi retreat. 

Jennison's and Moonlight's brigade, at this unexpected 
break in the line, formed c[uickly aiu! marched in a parallel line 
westward with the onward movement of Shelby's and Fagau's 
forces that poured through the gap: Curtis ordered Major E. H. 
Hunt, his chief of artillery, io lead the mounted men of his 
personal escort, Company G of the Eleventh Kansas, to a posi- 
tion at the head of Jennison's line to check Shelby's advance 
toward Westport. Their attack on ^-hclby's head kept him from 
seizing the town Saturday evening. 

Marmadnke's routing, even in retreat, was sure to be of ad- 
vantage to Price's attack ; he could fall into line north of Fagan's 
forces at the Blue, and move southward with the main army. 
Maj.-Gen. Sterling Price had also a well-planned battle-field and 
a fairly good loophole for retreat toward Fort Scott. Kansas. 
This point offered certain advantages toward getting back 
through Arkansas with his "recruits" in the event of his com- 
plete failure, and mav justly be called "liis last resort," or sixth 
objective point. 

One company of Jennison'< artillery kept up their firing 
to so late an hour that Brigadier-General Shelby professed him- 
self "tired of its d d noise," and ordered Col. Sidney D. 

Jackman and Col. F. B. Gordon to go over and take it, under 

56 



coru-iield cover, by a tiauk uK'Jvement. They had the pleasure of 
obeying his order completely, and brought back also the erstwhile 
enthusiastic gunners and two Kansas artillery flags seized by 
Captains McCoy and Wood, of the Fifth Missouri, which were 
presented to Major-Greneral Sterling Price at the close of the 
day, October 22, 1864. 

Moonlight w^ent into camp at Shawnee Mission. Pleas- 
anton's Army of Pursuit that night came on through to Independ- 
ence and occupied the country between the town and the Big 
Blue River north of the territory held by Price's rear guard to the 
wagon train, which had been drawn up to and moved south of 
the "gap." Sanborn's brigade and Pleasanton's van encamped at 
Byrom's Ford, supported by Winslow's brigade to his north. 
Brown's and McN'eil's brigades camped in the open c-ountry be- 
tween them and the Westport road to Independence. Pleasanton 
had pushed ]\farmaduke's van up to the Confederate rear line 
south of Westport, but his rear occupied the trenches on the Big 
Blue, where he encamped for the night. 

The Confederates' council of war was not the only council 
that was held that night. The Wyandotte, Kansas, folk had a 
"pow-wow,''" and demanded cei'tain precautions to be taken by 
the Army of the Border for their ])rotection. 

At nightfall Curtis had ordered Deitzler's brigade and 
Blair's brigade into the ditches in front of Kansas City. Moon- 
light, as we have seen, was at Shawnee Mission. Jennison's 
lirigade was in the trenches south of Westport. Kersey Coates 
and his splendid body of Kansas City Home Guards spent the 
night in the trenches in front of Kansas City and doing out- 
post and picket duty in the field: many of them doing splendid 
messenger service, plying between the divisions of the Army of 
the Border with news and orders. 

The old Harris House at Westport was that night a Federal 
hospital, but it was destined in oiie short day to extend its hos- 
pitality to both the Blue and the Grav. The l.umane women of 
Westport, it is said, knew no distinction. 

At Gen. Curtis's headquarters for the night, the old Gilliss 
Hotel, there was a real council of war, oPficial ; participated in 
between the officers commanding the troops and the volunteer 
aides. While the voting men slept in the trenches in Missouri, 
politicians walked the floor for fear the ^filitia would not get 
back to Kansas bv the first Tuesdav after the first Monday in 
ISTovember. 

The oflficial council of the olficers preparatory to next day's 
battle was to no little extent hampered by this sort of volunteer 

57 



aid; wlieu Curtis was hard pressed by Senator "Jim" Lane over 
a point foucerning the movement of troops from tlie Kansas 
border, General Blunt asked him for orders. 

Preparations for the morning campaign had been going on 
all night and ammunition-wagons had supplitt! Jennison and 
Moonlight to the capacity of each soldier: the battle had been 
carefully planned. At the witching hour of three came the or- 
der. General Blunt, who was anxious to fight, Deitzler and Blair, 
taking the three roads to the southward, were to move out of the 
Kansas City trenches with their eo]nmands before daybreak, 
leaving the earthworks to be held by the Hoiue Guards; they 
were ordered to form the reserve. Ford's brigade on the hills 
just north of Westjjort had spent the night in boots and saddles, 
but were now ordered south of the little city to Jennison's left; 
the latter commander had orders to move southward to Brush 
Creek, to a point near where the Wornall road crosses the stream. 
C*ol. ^Moonlight's orders were, to go into action on the riglit of 
the Fedeal line south of \\'eptport. ^TcLain's Independent Bat- 
tery, Colorado Volunteers, with six rifled held-pieces, and the 
Twelfth Kansas Militia supported the line between the road that 
is now Troost Avenue and Ford's left. "Open the attack at 
daybreak all along the line" was the general order from Major- 
(leneral Samuel R. Curtis. The Confederate line was formed 
with ''Fighting Joe" Shelby in front of W.jstpi jt, Fagan east of 
Shelbv's division, and Marmaduke's van just east of Fagan's 
position, his rear-guard in the trenches at the Big Blue. 

When the Sabbath day peeped over the eastern horizon as 
the spy, the hosts along the Big Blue first met the eye. Re- 
versed from the scene of yesterday, tbe Confederates under 
Marmaduke, with his famous rear-guard, were in the trenches 
that the Kan^ans had deserted tlu- evening before, and Pleas- 
anton's army of pursuit was on the east bank and at earliest 
dawn opened fire, hoping to rout the guard and pass through 
the "gap" and crush Price's invasion. Colonel \Yinslow, whose 
troops had kept up firing until after midnight the night be- 
fore, was still in the advance, yet the colonel knew he should 
have fallen back at the advance of Brown, who had received tlie 
luidnight order to relieve him. Pleasanton was informed that 
someone had blundered; quick to liis saddle, the general, who 
was "everv inch a soldier," summoning his staff to accompany 
him, dashed away at full speed to the front. Brown had dis- 
obeyed orders. "NTo sooner had the general grasped the situation 
than he wos galloping away again at full speed in the direction 
of Brown's division. The general, who had sent him an order 

58 



with a reason ("because your coniniaud lias as yet done uo iiglit- 
iug"), now demanded of him why it was not obeyed. Tlie an- 
swer that Winslow had made no room for him, when thei'e was 
the whole State of Missouri, brought from the commanding of- 
ficer that most dreadful of ail orders to an officer, "To the rear," 
and Brown was never re-instated. Tleasanton would hear no 
excuse or explanation from Brown himsdf. "Who'; next in com- 
mand?" he asked. Colonel Philips answere''. 'vl.'" His Seventh 
Missouri Cavalry was then in (he field under T. T. Crittenden. 
'"You take eommaud of this brigade." He ordered him at once 
to the front and to the light; in this Pleasanton was obeying his 
superioi* officer, Eosecrans, who had commandod iiim by wire 
to vigorously push the enemy in accordance wiih the telegram 
that General Curt-is had sent to Poi?ecrans in Independence on 
the 21st. 

The delay of this portion of the troops was sufficent to let 
Marmaduke get much of the advantage, and the fight be present- 
ly put up showed the Kansanf. how they might have held the 
works the day before. Phillips led Brown's brigade against the 
three guns of Marmaduke that had been placed in an advantage- 
ous position commanding the road and the ford, and he plowed 
down upon the mounted men with death-dealing certainty. The 
Third Brigade, under Sanborn, joined Phillips and Winslow in 
a dismounted charge upon the works. The timb(-r v/as so thick 
that a mounted advance was imposi^ilile : their first attack had 
proven this; the ground was strewn with horses and men. ''A 
horrible loss," one officer reported. ''The fighting was as fierce 
as possible; several hundred men fell in the action.'" However, a 
heroic flank movement to the southward was executed while the 
main body was fiercely trying to cause ^Tarmaduke's evacuation 
of the ditches by carrying their principal attack a few hundred 
yards to the northward along the line of the Big Blue while the 
flank maneuverers fell liack to Byrom's Ford. It was successful, 
and not only the crossing was gained, but the Confederate line 
broke in several places and the I'ourteenth Cavalry, under Major- 
General W. Ivelley, and the Seventh, under Crittenden, waded 
over, with their guns above their heads in many instances, in the 
face of a mosti terrific fire from the gunners on the slope, where 
the fighting men of Marmaduke had re-arranged themselves. 

Over the steep west bank came the Army of Pursuit with 
their splendid charging force, Phillips riding aliead of the un- 
mounted men. At the timber edge the men lay down and re- 
inforcements and ammunition supplies were ordered. Across the 
ford came Winslow's brigade, upon the run, and formed in line 

59 



ill front of Philipss recliuing men. Beuteen, with reinforce- 
ments and ammunition supjalies^ also ruslied mto the field and 
formed in battle-line to the right of Vv'inslo\v"s men. The 
air began to thicken with bullets; ]Vrarmaduke's sharpshooters 
firing from behind every concei^able [jrotection, evtn climbing to 
the tree-tops. Crittenden's and Philips's men, now well supplied 
with the necessary lead, rose to the fury of the batlle, while all 
the men advanced in one glorious charge up the slope. Crit- 
tenden and Winslow were both struck in this engagement, but up 
the slope went the Army of Pursuit, and the men of Company 
A, Third Indiana, captured a flag. 

Several officers reported this charge as ihe hardest fought 
point of the day's confiiot ; around the log-cabin at the top of the 
slope it was a hand-to-hand engagement. Philips's, Benteen's, 
and Winslow's men bore surperior arms, and on a field sixty yards 
wide there was a perfect shower of l)ullets, which broke Marma- 
duke's last desperate stand. AVhen he retreated to save his guns, 
the Army of Pursuit advanced to meet the Army of the Border 
on the field of Westport and was greeted with a yell from the 
busy Kansans. This about one o'clock p. m. 

Dawn found the Army of the Trans-Mississippi ready with 
their commander, Maj.-Gen. Sterling T-'riee, in liis headquarters 
on the field; General Curtis at the old Gilliss House; troops on 
both sides all arrayed. ^The guns of McLain exchanged shots 
with Shelby's guns; as the Federal troops marched boldly into 
the trenches and opened a brisk fire, this was promptly returned 
by the ever-ready Confederates. Presently the troops in the 
trenches directly south of Westport with bold bravado crossed 
Brush Creek and from the woods on the other side charged into 
the open between the bluff on which Shelby had placed his fight- 
ing men on the timber's edge; with great valor and the fam- 
ous "Eebel yell," down from their stronghold the Confederates 
swarmed and vigorously rushed the boys in blve liack through 
the brush to their own side of the creek. By this time fighting 
was general all along the line and two or three" points were 
especially notable. 

Pagan's division east of Shelby exchanged brisk banters 
with Ford's command, lying across the creek in front of him; 
Marmaduke's van opposing the Federal line, east of what is now 
Troost Avenue, was shnrply encountered on the par+ of the -Fed- 
eral leader, with the hope of driving his van back to the Blue. 

Let us return to the lines in front of Westport. Both sides 
seemed to content themselves for some time after this first en- 
counter with drawing back to their respective vantage-grounds 

60 



and shooting at each other. This was hard on Westport, for 
many of Shelby's shells went over the heads of his foe into the 
streets; one exploded just nort of the Harris House, which was 
the field headquarters of the Federal officers. 

Now "Fighting Joe" Shelby's men advanced to attack ; they 
attempted to rush down from the ridge or bluffs along the creek 
and dash upon the left wing of the Federal lines; they were met 
half way in this maneuver by two regiments of Kansas Militia, 
who charged into the creek-bed as if to redeem themselves. They 
drove this attacking body back to the Confederate lines. Both 
sides had now made a daring dash, proving that they were very 
equally pitted against each other. In this left flank attempt 
Shelby's men got as near Fort Leavenworth, the chief objective 
point in the hope of the Army of the Trans-Missifcsipi, as they 
ever got, and the action, though repulsed, was executed. The 
First and JSTineteenth Kansas repulsed this attack. "We mention 
this because the latter was one of the latest regiments assigned 
by General Curtis, and he mentions this especially in his report 
of the day, as "raw recruits." As has been noted. Shelby's di- 
vision gained some ground at a point where the Wornall road 
crosses Brush Creek. He was the object of the second charge of 
the Federals, but the advance was made general all along the 
line. The bluffs at this place are particularly steep and the at- 
tacking forces were at c. di'"<id vantage, and this division oC "Fight- 
ing Joe's" army could fight some too, so the aggressors were 
compelled to leave tlie liluffs in their possession; Major-General 
Deitzler tried to get the howitzer in action here, but their resist- 
ance was too sharp, and he agreed with Blunt tlmt the troops 
coidd not take the slope, and reported to General Curtis, who 
was booted and spurred, and quick to the sadrlle. was on his way 
to the field headquarters. He mounted to the top of the old 
Harris House, and with several aides he watched the game of 
contending forces. The late Senator Plumh, of Kansas, was one 
of his aides, and has left us quite a graphic description of the 
scene of battle. Ford. Blunt. Blair. Deitzler, and Jennison, with 
Moonlight further west on the right wing, he names in the order 
of their position in the field, as against Shelby, Fagan, and Mar- 
maduke's van. The attack just repulsed Shelby's right and 
Fagan's head, but had proved too much for the left wing in the 
defense of Westport line; they had taken the bluffs, steep, rocky, 
and rising above the densely wooded south hank of the creek, 
which at this point surelv was characteristic of its name. Brush 
Creek, and they were able to hold it. Curtis and his aides saw 
this fight south of Westport; his whole line, excepl Moonlight, 

61 



was engaged with Shelby and Fagan's divisions. L is now eight 
o'clock, and since daybreak the Federals have been repulsed in 
every action, have practically no grounds, and have lost at this 
point of advantage. At Wornall ri\id Ford's iiiountecl brigade 
had at eight o'clock crossed over to the south side of the stream, 
and Moonlight had, after repulsing the van of Shelby, moved 
his position down a little on the right, now partly flanking the 
van of "Fighting Joe's"' forces, before \\^estpor!. We have seev 
how at this hour Marmaduke's rear was trying, and very success- 
fully too, to keep the Army of PnrF)Tit east of the Big Blue. 
Curtis, about ten o'clock, sent word nil along his line that he 
was coming to the field to lead the attack, and ordered a general 
advance and a fight, the order was obeyed and with general suc- 
cess; the commands cf Moonlight and J'ord, the extreme right 
and left wings, compelled the Confederates' line to waver and 
left the tug of war for the brigades of Jennison, Blair, and 
Blunt, in the center of the line. Those troops that had made the 
gap in the line at the Big Bhic tbe day I;efore were now in the 
thickest of the fight, and to their credit, Curtis said in his re- 
port, they fought like experienced soldiers, but added that they 
had had a strong tendency for the border up to this time, or 
words to this effect. Curtis remained in the front of this center 
division. Blunt, Jennison, and Deitzler enconraged their men, 
but the first attempt trf charge the bluffs failed; Curtis then 
employed the artillery under his clTicieut chief, Maj'^r Hunt, and 
he made a second and very determined attempt to lead the men 
up the hill. Lieutenant Edward Gill received commendation for 
his vigorous work with the giins at this time, but again the 
troops fell back, and it began to look like the heights could not 
be taken, so determined was the resistance of Shelby's fighting 
men. At this point appeared "that old Missouri pioneer" who 
knew the lay of the land, and gaining tbe car of Curtis, told 
Aim of a break in the ledge, a "p;an" Ciirlis called it in "his 
report: bv ]iassing to the southwarfl lip c(Hild avoid the steep- 
ness of the bhifT, and quickly Curtis made use of the suggestion; 
the men were not detected in tliis movement until the success 
of the guns had been recognized bv the wavering Confederate 
forces. Curtis having thus extricated his' men from Brush Creek, 
the immediate results were in favor of his guns, and the men, 
encouraged, now carried the fight lieft^re them into the more 
open fields, near where the Countrv Ch>ib is now located. 

The whole Army of the Border to a man now went into 
earnest action and attempted to rout the enemy. The Confed- 
erates had lost their stronghold before Westport, and vet the 

62 



resistance that they put up was marked and praiseworthy ; they 
fought like men in the open field, but gradually lost gToimd. 
This break in the Confederate line, which occurred about 11a. m., 
weakened Marniaduke's position at Byroni's Ford, who was com- 
pelled to send three pieces of his arlillery to the open fields near 
the Country Club, in the efforts which were being made there 
to check the Federal onslaught. The Confederate officers saw 
that the success of this Federal movement was filled with danger 
to their position and made a determined but fruitless stand at 
the Wornall House; around this home occurred one of the sharp- 
est engagements of the day. McGee's regiment of cavalry charged 
against McLain's batteries; Jennison, observing this, commanded 
Captain Johnson, of the Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, to join him, 
and these two officers led this company and two squadrons of 
the Second Colorado Cavalry in a fierce counter-charge against 
Mcttee; they met in a short, desperate man-to-man struggle, in 
which the Confederates lost 100 and the Federals 15 men. This 
was one of the bloodiest engagemenis of the Battle of Westport, 
and within an hour the Womall homo became a hospital for the 
Blue and the Gray, and the wounded men on both sides received 
like attention and hospitality here. The near-duel which oc- 
curred between IMcGee and Johnson re=uUed in the death of the 
one and the other was severely wounded. 

Brig.-Gen. ^1. Jeff Thomp-on rerorted this action as the turn 
of the tide against Price, and if wns well said, as the counter- 
charge led by Jennison with onlv one squadron of the Second 
Colorado routed them from their position; he then sent for re- 
inforcements, and the entire Kansas Artillery, being thirteen 
howitzers and eighteen brass Parrotted guns, moved up to his 
position, which was never disputed In' the Confederates. 

At this hour the Army of Pursuit and the Army of the Bor- 
der united on the field of Westnort. a co7ubined force twenty 
thousand strong, now confronted the Armv of the Trans-Missis- 
sippi and Price's invasion was near the end ; the end, we may say. 
so far as Missouri was concerned. 



63 



THE CASUALTIES OF TPTE THREE-DAYS FIGHT. 



There is soi.ne interesting history concerning tlie resting- 
place of the dead that fell at the Battle of Westport. ^lany of 
the Confederate soldiers have been reinterred twice since they 
were buried ofn] the field of battle by the Kansas City Home 
Guards, commanded by A. M. Allen. They were first reinterred 
in what was known as the Byrom's Ford Cemetery, Seventy-first 
Street and Troost Avenue. They remained there until they were 
removed to their final rosting-place in Forest Hill Cemetery. 

Twenty bodies of Federal dead, after the Battle of the Lit- 
tle Blue, were taken to Wyandotte and interred in what is known 
as the old Huron Place Cemetery; they werei allowed to rest there 
only three days, because the Indians refused to let the United 
States Army use the ground that was then and is now the red- 
man's burial-place. The bodies were in a dreadful condition, 
past recognition, but they were taken to Lawrence and Topeka 
for burial. The soldiers that reached Topeka were met by a 
mourning city, and a very appropriate funeral service wa-* held 
and the bodies placed far to the outer edge of what is now the 
city limits; until lately no association has ever marked these 
graves, but they are soon to have a suitable monument. 

"Who does not march, in dreams, to that old air 

Called 'Dixie's Land,' and see the barred flag fly 
Proudly 'mid smoke where battle's blinding glare 
Of sheeted flame shows how brave men can die? 

"Ye of the South built new upon the old 

Foundations, 'round Avhich sacred mem'ries creep; 
T onlv ask that you retain, unsold. 

Those grass-grown hillocks where dead comrades sleep." 

The object of the United Daughters of the Confedera-cy is 
to honor the memory of those who served and those who fell in 
the service of the Confederate States; to protect historic places 
of the Confederacy : to collect and preserve the material for a 
truthful historv of the war; to aid in erecting monmnents to the 
heroes of the Confederacy; to fulfill the duties of grateful kind- 
ness toward the survivors of the war and those dependent ^^pon 

64 



them, and to cherish the ties of friendship which these sacred 
principles impose upon the members of this Association. 

Nearly fifty years have passed since contending armies met 
in mighty conflict in and near Westport. 

Fields that smiled fair and green in the morning sunlight 
at the close of day were soaked by a crimson flood, which be- 
spoke the sacrifice of the lives of so many of the heroic sons of 
Missouri. Price, Marmaduke, and Shelby were there, and gave 
their best eiforts for the cause they loved so well. Then it was 
that Westport's women, with tender, sympathetic touch as they 
bent over the wounded, robbed suffering of its pangs. 

Nearly half a century, and to-day the Southern women of 
Missouri rejoice that tlie angel of peace smiles where grim- 
visaged war once frowned. The scars made during that awful 
fratricidal conflict are nearly all eft'aced, and historic old West- 
port hears only in memory the roar of cannon and the shriek of 
shot and shell. She has destroyed all traces of bitterness as she 
extends a welcome to her friends ; she knows no foes, because time 
has so mellowed hatred that it has been absorbed in fraternal 
love. 

The Avomen of the South have been ever conspicuous for 
their loyalty to the Southern cause. Indeed, someone has said 
that had it not been for the Southern women the war would 
never have lasted so long. 

To-day the United Daughters of the Confederacy, descend- 
ants of the Southern men and women of the sixties, are busy 
comforting the old soldiers who wore the gray, and minister- 
ing to their every need. 

It was for this purpose and to provide a "Home for ex- 
Confederates" that the association known as Daughters of the 
Confederacy was formed bv the women of St. Ix)uis in 1891. 
This was merged into the United Daughters of the Confederacv 
in 1898. In Fayette. Missouri, in that year, the Missouri Di- 
vision was formed, and this has spread until thirty-fonr active 
chapters are now on its roster. 

Kansas City Chapter, ISTo. 149, third on the list, has been 
particularly identified with Westport and its surroundings. In 
Forest Hill Cemetery stands a beautiful monument erected by 
this chapter, at a cost of $5,000, in memory of the Confederate 
Soldiers who fell in the Battle of Westport. In three graves at 
its base are remains of seventy-three soldiers, names unknown, 
but they represent the States of Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Arkansas, and Illinois. Near them is the grave of Col. Upton 
(Up.) Hays, of Westport, killed at the Battle of Newtonia; and 

65 



here also rests the body of Gen. Joseph (Joe) Urvilie .Shelby, 
aud none braver, more gallant, more devoted to the Southland 
ever lived than this adopted son of Missouri. The bodies of the 
seventy-three soldiers were picked up on the field of battle and 
interred in what was afterwards known as Byrom's Ford Cem- 
etery (isee supplement). The lot bought in Forest Hill Cem- 
etery was deeded to the Kansas (Jity Chapter, to be held in 
trust by it. The trustees, Mrs. Hugh Miller, ]\irs. ^Faxwell Min- 
ter, Mrs. J. M. Philips, and Mrs. Blake L. Woodson, hold the 
deed for the property. 

The monument stands on historic ground, for it was on that 
spot that General Shelby camped the night before the Battle of 
Westport. The United Daughters of the Confederacy of Mis- 
souri raised over $50,00U towards building and furnishing the 
Home for ex-Confederates at Higginsville, Mo. This Home is 
one of the most beautiful public institutions in the State, con- 
sisting of 3G0 acres of fertile land, with splendid brick buildings, 
well equipped hospital, cottages, chapels, fine barns, and is well 
stocked. There are in the Home at this time about 360 soldiers 
who wore the gray. Kansas City Chapter, No. 149, has been al- 
ways an active worker for that cause and it has also devoted its 
time to matters historical and benevolent. This chapter is a 
pioneer in that great association which extends now from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific^ and from the extreme north to the Gulf 
of Mexico. Wherever there are women from the Southland, 
they will be found Ijanded together for the purpose of keeping 
alive, not hostility, but the love for the old South. 

Kansas City Chapter has seen the birth and growth of three 
other cha])ters in our city : Stonewall Jackson, under the leader- 
ship of Mrs. Wm. S. Clagett; Eobert E. Lee, presided over by 
its most eapable president, Mrs. Thos. W. Parry; George Pickett, 
whose aflFairs are capably administered by ]\Irs. Hunter Meri- 
wether. Kansas City Chapter, under the able guidance of its 
president, j\Irs. Hugh Miller, expects to accomplish great work 
along historical lines in the near future, and incidentally give 
the Battle of Westport special study. 

The United Daughters of the Confederacy are earnest South- 
ern women, loyal to their united country, with a membership of 
80,000, but cherishing and keeping alive in their hearts the 
memories and traditions of the life in the old South ; that ideal 
life when courtesy to women, honor, and integritv were inherent 
in the men, and modesty, gentle womanliness, and perfect mother- 
hood were represented l)y its women. 



66 



It seems the setting for this ^e^^nion could not liave been 
made more perfect for the Daughters of the Confederacy than 
that they should have Mrs. Roma J. AVornall for their State- 
President, around whose home cluster so many memories of that 
fateful October day; but many an October has come and gone,. 
and no more darkness reigns over the land, but the soldier from 
the Southland is never forgotten. The motto of the organization, 
'Tjord God of hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget — ^lest we for- 
get," is particularly appropriate and is deeply imprinted on the 
heart of every Daughter of the Confederacy. 




MoNUMEXT Erected on the Battle Field by the Kansas. 
City Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy. 



67 







H. J. VIVIAN, 
Major 2d Missouri Cavalry, C. S. A. 



PERSO.\AX. ItEMIiS^ISCENCE OF MAJ. H. J A^VIAN OF 
THE LAST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF WESTPORT. 



On the last day of the Battle of VVestport, General Shelby 
gave me orders to take three hundred men and go to the ford 
south of Westport, telling me not to let a Federal pass there 
under any circumstances, and to remain there until a courier was 
sent for me. 

After having reached the ford as ordered I had the men dis- 
mount and deployed them along the south side of the ford They 
ha(| been stationed in this manner about an hour when the Fed- 
eral cavalry was discovered coming from Westport. Waiting 
quietly until they nearly reached the ford, I ordered the men to 
fire. The Federals fled after having returned only a few shots. 
In about two hours they returned within a quarter of a mile 
of the ford and, after a short consultation among themselves, re- 
treated. I have since read in Jenkins's ''History of the Battle 
of Westport" that they returned to the Federal headquarters 
with the report that it was quite impossible to cross at the ford, 
as Shelby was stationed down there with his full command. 
On the afternoon of the same day their cannon were ordered to 
the battle-field; they had in the meantime met an elderly man 
who lived in the vicinity and he had told them he would pilot 
them over a different road to the battle-field, thus avoiding cross- 
ing at the ford. 

After having remained at the post General Shelby had or- 
dered me until four-thirty in the afternoon, I deemed it neces- 
sary to return to headquarters for further orders, as no courier 
had arrived upon the scene. At this time the Federals were on 
every side of us, with the exception of one small space on the 
south. Just when we reached the top of the hill about half a mile 
east of the Wornall homestead the Federal regiment mounted 
their horses and rode parallel with us, thinking we were Fed- 
erals, I suppose; in the distance I recognized General Shelby by 
the horse he rode. [ started for him, and it was then that the 
Federals realized their mistake and started firing; but General 
Shelby, seeing the situation, soon covered my retreat. 

At his chance of conversation with me, he shouted: "Where 
in hell have you been all this time?" 

69 



"Yes, 'where in hell' have 1 been ? I 've been right down 
there on the ford where yon ordered me to go and stay until you 
sent a courier for me to return." 

"Well, didn't he come ?" 

"No; you didn't send any courier." 

"Well, I suppose the Federals killed him; if they didn't, i 
will have him court-martialed and shot." 

We then had orders from General Price, for Shelby and his 
men to take the rear and keep the Federals oif, as Fagan was 
then leaving the battle-field. The next morning General Price 
ordered Marmaduke in the rear to guard against the Federals, 
saying that Shelby and his men had worked very hard and needed 
a rest, and they would therefore be put in front. 

About eleven o'clock, as I remember, a courier can:e rushing 
to the front, saying that Llarmaduke had been seriously v/ounded 
and that General Shelby was ordered to the back, where the Fed- 
erals were crowding closely upon us. This so angered old Joe 
that he had nothing to do all the way to the loar but stand up 
■in his stirrups and swear with every step of his horse. The Fed- 
cerals flanked in on us and a lively fight ensued. 

If there is any soldier who was with me that day on Brush 
Creek at the 'ford, I would be greatly pleased to hear from him 
or see him at my home. 

Very sincerely, your comrade and friend. 

Major H. J. Vivian, 
2901 Campbell St., Kansas City, Mo. 



70 



EECOLLECTIONS OF THE SECOXD DAY'S FIGHT IN 
THE BATTLE OF WESTPOET. 

By P. I. BONEBRAKE. 



On tlie morning of October 22, 1864, a portion of the Sec- 
ond Eegiment of the Kansas State Militia, under the command 
of Col. Greorge W. Veal, of Topeka, was camped at the crossing 
of the Blue Biver known as "Hickman Mills Crossing," south of 
Westport, Missouri. 

The regiment had 300 men, cavalry, and an old howitzer. 
At an early hour our colonel received an order to go on a scout 
to Hickman Mills to ascertain if a report was true that General 
Price was sending his wagon train, cattle, and unarmed men in 
that direction to be reunited with the main body after the expected 
battle at Kansas City. After breakfast we mounted and proceeded 
to Hickman Mills. We waited until about noon and no sign of 
Price's train. We started on our return to Hickman Mills Cross- 
ing, where we met an order to return to Westport. After rest- 
ing awhile at the river crossing, we saddled up and started for 
Westport. We were hardly on the move when we met a mes- 
senger on a foaming horse, saying that Shelby had crossed at a 
lower ford and would cut us oft unless we hastened. We re- 
mounted and put our horses in a gallop. When we passed from 
the valley to the highland, we saw^ coming from the northeast a 
long line of cavalry, which proved to be Shelby's men. We were 
completely cut off from Westport. We halted opposite the 
Moc'kaby farm-house. On our right was an open field. We 
formed in line of battle in the field, with the cannon in the public 
road. The long line of the enemy marched up to our front and 
formed in line. The contest was aboat to commence between a 
brigade of soldiers, Shelby's men, the flower of the Confederate 
Western Army, and about 300 Militia, composed of lawyers, doc- 
tors, preachers, farmers, and others, some of whom had never 
fired a gun. The fight was initiated by the discharge of a shell 
by the old howitzer. The shell burst about 100 feet above 
the heads of the enemy. The following shells failed to burst 
and are supposed to be going yet. The musketry fire was opened 
all along the line. Shelby attempted to flank our position by 
sending a body of troops to our left. This maneuver was checked 

71 



by a free discharge of canister sliot. After the battle had been 
on about a half ani hour, we noticed by the formation and the 
bugle calls that the enemy were preparing for a charge. Up to 
tliis there was but little damage. With the usual ''Eebel yell," 
the charge came, and the enemy rode right over us. At the 
opening of the fight we were dismounted and our horses were 
held in the rear. AVe scattered like sheep, every man for him- 
self, each running for his horse. Unfortunately, the horse- 
holders had let the horses go, and many of the men were capt- 
ured. Eight here begins a portion of the story that is disagree- 
able to tell, even after this lapse of time, nearly half a century. 
The fiercest part of the enemy's charge was centered on the bat- 
tery consisting of about thirty men. After* the battery was use- 
less, the men were unarmed and surrendered. Yet twenty-four 
of those men were shot down. Later their remains were brought 
to Topeka and are honored by a beautiful monument to their 
memory. 

Let me note here that the Militia were armed with old-fash- 
ioned Enfield infantry, muzzle-loading rifles, siipplied with ill- 
fitting cartridges. The men threw them away as they ran. The 
men were followed as they ran and many were shot down. Lieut.- 
Col. H. M. Green was robbed, his outer clothing taken off, and 
he was then shot. The same treatment was given to Captain 
II. E. Bush, of Company G. The same to Lieutenant De Long. 
Colonel Green and Captain Bush recovered. De Long died. 

Fortunately there was a brushy piece of timber on the north 
bank of the Blue Eiver, into which many of the men ran and 
thus saved their lives, as the brush was so dense that the horse- 
men could not follow. Yet for half an hour after the battle 
an occasional shot was heard as some unfortunate man was found. 
The hatred toward the Kansas men was intensified no doubt by 
Gen. Ewing's Order N^o. 11 and the raids of Jennison's men at 
various times. As I said before, looking back almost a half- 
century, it seems strange that tlie issues of war should array 
neighbor against neighbor, sometimes even father against sons, 
brother against brother, sweetheart against sweetheart: making 
men more cruel than the beasts of the jungle. Many of Shelb/s 
men were from Jackson and Clay counties. 

Incompetence or cowardice cost the lives of more than fifty 
Kansans. Colonel Lowe, with a regiment of Militia, and Major 
Lang, with part of Jennison's regiment, stood on the hills south 
of the Blue, in plain sight of the trap into which the Kansans 
were placed, and by a demonstration could have withdrawn them. 
Shelby paid no attention to them, but after the battle quietly 

72 



went into camp near the battle-field. His mission was to form 
the left wing of Price'si army for the battle of the next day. 

Shelby held about eighty prisoners of our regiment. On 
Sunday morning, the 23d, they were gotten together and at- 
tached to Price's train of stragglers, recruits, cattle, etc., and 
hurriedly marched south. They were kept in this way until Fort 
Scott was passed. Price's main army was so hard pushed and the 
prisoners so much of a handicap that they were turned loose 
and told to shift for themselves. They were in a difficult sit- 
uation. They could not travel in a body, and if they scattered 
they would be classed either as bushwhackers or jayhawkers and 
shot. However, they followed the latter course, every man for 
himself, and in some way the most of them reached Fort Scott 
and were) helped to their homes. INTany thrilling stories of their 
escape were told by these men. 

T omitted to mention that Brig.-Gen. M. S. (rrant was with 
us a portion of the time, but withdrew early to Olathe, Kansas. 

It may be of some interest to hear of my personal experi- 
ence in the fight. WTien Shelby's men charged and rode over 
us, each man looked out for himself. The men who were to 
hold the horses let them go. I found my horse near by in a 
fence-comer, nearly scared to death. I mounted, jumped the 
fence, and started to run the road to the crossing. I soon dis- 
covered that some of the enemy were ahead of me and would cut 
me off. so I turned and ran for the timber and. jumping off my 
horse, ran down a small ravine; T left my pursuer, as the brush 
was too dense for a horseman. He left me a souvenir of the 
race in a pistol ball in my saddle just in front of my body. I 
crossed a road into an old field where the brush was thin and, 
leing very tired, laid down to rest. T remained there until dark- 
ness set in. The bugles of Shelby's men sounded the recall and 
I started west, keeping near the stream and the brush for safety. 
I had not been on the way long when I heard a voice call, ''Who 
comes there?" I dropped into the brush and failed to answer. 
Again I heard the same call, and then asked, "Who are you?'* 
The answer came, 'Tlopkins, of Capt. Hannum's com.pany." We 
then got together and traveled until, we guessed, about twelve 
o'clock. We laid down and slept in a haystack. At daylight 
we found ourselves near the road from Olathe to Westport, 
Later on we heard the cannonade, and that told that the "battle 
was on once more" and our troops still held Westport. We first 
went to the Harris House and found it a hospital ; the wounded 
of both sides were being treated by doctors and kind-hearted 
women. 

73 



Later I wandered on in the rear of the Colorado Battery, 
which was firing over the heads of our troops in the valley. 
Price's army was slowly retreating. The victory rested on the 
banners of the soldiers of the Union, 

I went on to Kansas City, where I fell in with a camp of 
Topekans, and Judge Martin, afterwards United States senator 
from Kansas, gave me some raw bacon and crackers, the first 
food I had had for thirty hours. Tt seemed to me the best meal 
I ever ate. 

Our little battle was the beginning of one that was fought 
almost continually day and night from Westport to the border 
of Texas. Price had organized a campaign to recruit his army 
and furnish supplies for it for the coming winter, and incident- 
ally to capture Kansas City, Tort Leavenworth, and sweep south 
through Kansas. The campaign ended by Price's escape to the 
border of Texas with a remnant of his army, in number hardly 
enough to constitute a good body-guard. 

The question has been often asked whether the results of 
the war justified the bloodshed and the vast expenditures of both 
sides. It certainly determined two questions. First, it deter- 
mined that we are a jSTation, and not a Confederacy. "A Union 
now and forever, one and inseparable." The late Alexander 
Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, said in a speech: 
"When all the States are bound together in one common head, 
then the nations of the earth will look with wonder at our career ; 
and when they hear the noise of the wheels of progress in achieve- 
ment and development and expansion and glory and renown, it 
will appear to them as the very voice of the Almighty." 

Second, it removed forever the sin and disgrace of slavery, 
which had cursed the Nation from its organization to the date 
of President Lincoln's proclamation. 

I close with the words of the immortal L^'ncoln, which are 
as applicable to us to-day as when they were delivered : '^ith 
malice toward none, with charitv for all, with firmness in the 
right as God has given to see the right, let us strive to finish 
the work we are in, to bind up the 'N'ation's wounds, to care for 
him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and 
his orphans, and to do all which may achieve and cherish a just 
and lasting place among ourselves and unto all nations." 

The campaign was a series of blunders on the part of both 
the Federals and Confederates. Had Price turned south at Lex- 
ington, he would have been 100 miles away before Generals 
Pleasanton and Curtis could have united their forces and he 
would have saved his immense train of recruits, supplies, etc. 

74 



Eut his anxiety to strike Kansas City and Kansas cost him the 
loss of his army. The Federal Army had but little faith in its 
commander. At one time four brigadier-generals of his army 
talked to him in such language that he agreed. to take the ag- 
gressive and in no case fall back beyond the Kansas Eiver as he 
proposed. Political jealousy and insubordination characterized 
the Federal forces during the entire campaign, even down along 
the line after Price had begun his retreat. 



75 



SEP 9 ^9^^ 

THE OLD MAI^ VENERABLE. 



In his report of the Battle of Westport,. Major-General Sam- 
.uel E. Curtis, IT. S. A., mentions a God-sent guide and gives 
him credit for having grasped the situation correctly and furn- 
ished the valuable plan at the critical moment v;hen he was try- 
ing to rally his "Kansans" to a second attempt to charge up 
the slopes under the fire of Shelby's fighting m.en. Feeble and 
unarmed, "this aged Missouri pioneer" sought with great diffi- 
culty the side of the commander and explained that he knew the 
lay of the land; that to take his troops through a gap in the 
rocky ridge south of the creek was the only alternative if the 
men could not gain the heights before attempted that had proved 
so impregnable. 

J. L. ISTorman, volunteer aide on the stafi' of General S. E. 
Curtis, wrote the account of that incident of the Battle of West- 
port. Curtis, like a truly thankful man, offered the Mis- 
souri farmer a horse and bade him ride with hi? staff and lead 
the way ; too feeble for mounting, the veteran of many a pioneer 
strategy refused to ride, and when his mission was accomplished, 
he sank down weak with exhaustion, but in his eyes there showed 
the light that never fails when God in one has spoken. A mis- 
sion accomplished was truly evidenced, immediately by the suc- 
cess of the guns of the Federal troops, before which the Confed- 
erates fell back. This gap is some few hundred yards from where 
the Wornall road now crosses Brush Creek to the westward. It 
should be suitably marked in memory of "this aged Missouri 
pioneer,'"' as General Curtis calls him. 



76 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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